CA Alcohol Legislation to Watch in 2019

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Lowlights include cutting alcohol taxes, continuing the campaign to strip protective last calls

As California lawmakers go into a new legislative year, they bring with them some classically bad ideas. From lifting restrictions on alcohol sales to lowering taxes on youth-friendly beverages, the slate of bills is peppered with red flags. One promising bill, however, takes a novel approach to reducing driving under the influence (DUI).

AB 205, the “All Beer, All the Time” Bill: In a short-sighted giveaway to megabrewers, this bill would add new beverages to the beer category. Specifically, it eliminates the requirement that a beer be made of barley, malt, and hops, including alcoholic beverages made from fermented fruit, honey, and natural sugars. This distinction affect more than just the technical definition of beer. Beer enjoys lower tax rates and can be sold in more kinds of stores than other alcoholic beverages (specifically, wine and liquor). Already, Big Alcohol finds loopholes to get alcopops and similar fruit-flavored drinks fortified with distillled spirits sold as “beer”. This bill just makes it easier to inundate the state with this kind of kid-friendly, easy-to-drink faux Schlitz.

AB 475, the “Drunk Artist” Bill: Every year, the legislature tries to carve out a new, special venue where alcohol can be distributed. This year, “paint and sip” classes are the benefactor. This kind of “class” involves getting tipsy while learning or practicing painting. Already, venues licensed to serve alcohol offer this kind of recreation. AB 475 would create a new carveout so that anyone offering that kind of class could get a liquor license. Aside from increasing overconsumption and alcohol outlet overconcentration, it continues the Dry Bar Bill’s precedent wherein any economic activity can be used as an excuse for alcohol service. Ultimately, real lessons do not require drunk students.

SB 55, the “Guns and DUI” Bill: This innovative bill would revoke a gun owner’s permit for 10 years if they violate certain laws involving alcohol intoxication, including DUI. On a simple level, this provides a new enforcement mechanism to dissuade drivers from getting behind the wheel after drinking. On a more complicated level, this acknowledges the tragic role alcohol intoxication plays in encouraging firearms violence. This law would reduce both forms of alcohol-related harm—gun-related and dangerous-driving-related.

SB 58, the “Relentlessly Dangerous 4 A.M. Bar” Bill: As detailed elsewhere, 2018 marks the third consecutive year in which Sen. Scott Wiener has attempted to overturn California’s standardized last call time. In this case, the senator may be “governor shopping”. After all, erstwhile Gov. Jerry Brown was crucial in vetoing last year’s version of the bill, while Governor Gavin Newsom is, himself, a benefactor of the alcohol industry. This makes it imperative that concerned Californians stop the bill in the legislature. After all, later last call times are associated with more violence, injury, emergency room impact, crime and enforcement costs, and, of course, early-morning dangerous driving.

Alcohol Justice remains determined to fight alcohol deregulation and dangerous legislation. We will keep you updated as these bills move through the capitol, or you can follow them on our California Alcohol Legislation Tracker.

READ MORE about the Dry Bar Bill.

READ MORE about how alcohol may compromise the governor.

READ MORE about the dangers of late last call times.