America's Beer Distributors Applaud Introduction of Legislation to Reaffirm States' Authority to Regulate Alcohol

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, H.R. 1161, The Community Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act of 2011, or "CARE" Act, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan group of eight members of Congress: Representatives Jason Chaffetz (UT), Bruce Braley (IA), Howard Coble (NC), John Conyers (MI), Ted Deutch (FL), Jim Jordan (OH), Dennis Ross (FL) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL). The goal of the CARE Act of 2011 is to recognize and reaffirm that alcohol is different from other consumer products and that it should continue to be regulated by the states.
Upon the introduction of the CARE Act of 2011, the National Beer Wholesalers Association President Craig Purser issued the following statement:
"We are pleased that Rep. Chaffetz and the original co-sponsors chose to make the first word in the legislation's title 'community.' This makes it clear that decisions regarding alcohol regulation should continue to be made at the state and local levels. This bipartisan legislation clarifies congressional intent in reaffirming the states' authority to make their own alcohol-related decisions."
"Ultimately, this legislation is about who should make decisions regarding alcohol regulation, not what those decisions should be. Alcohol is different than other consumer products and that's why the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution created a state-based system of alcohol regulation that effectively balances local community control, tough consumer protections as well as choice and variety. The majority of Americans believe that laws regarding the regulation of alcohol should be made at the state and local level – and so do we."