E-Malt.com News article: USA: Beer Institute have supported the components of the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act

The nation’s brewers and beer importers voiced their support of Congressional passage on December 7th 2006 of a bipartisan bill designed to combat illegal underage drinking. Members of the Beer Institute have long supported the components of S.T.O.P., the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (S.408), which focuses on education and awareness efforts at the grassroots level. Importantly, the bill highlights and enhances the traditional role of states, which are responsible for regulating alcohol beverage distribution and administering prevention and treatment activities in communities.

“Brewers, beer distributors, and other industry allies commend the Congress for passing this important underage-drinking prevention legislation,” said August A. Busch IV, Chairman of the Beer Institute. “This bill reflects broad consensus among the beer industry and the Congressional sponsors in recognizing the importance of fighting illegal underage drinking at the state and community level and of working collectively toward effective solutions to this issue.”

Other industry groups that contributed to this effort include the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), Brewers Association (BA), the Wine Institute (WI), the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), and others.

“Fighting illegal underage drinking is critically important to our members both as business leaders and as members of society. We applaud the efforts of the bill sponsors and our industry allies,” said Beer Institute President Jeff Becker. “Passing this bill reflects a collaborative effort between the alcohol beverage industry, the advocacy community, and legislators of both parties. We are pleased that this legislation reinforces the constitutional authority of each state to license and oversee all three tiers of our industry – brewers/importers, wholesalers, and retailers.”

When signed into law by President Bush, the S.T.O.P. Act will authorize millions in grants to fund public-private partnerships aimed at engaging adults and parents in this fight and formally establish and enhance the efforts of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD). In addition, the legislation empowers the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to report to Congress annually on the programs and policies of federal and state agencies charged with preventing underage drinking, adding an important layer of accountability to the process. HHS will devote particular attention to the role of the states in law enforcement to prevent underage persons from obtaining alcohol from commercial and non-commercial or social sources, including parents, older siblings, and other adults.

For decades, brewers and beer importers have been actively involved in fighting illegal underage drinking and other forms of alcohol abuse, investing millions of dollars annually in these efforts. In addition to working with Congressional and Administration officials and the government agencies highlighted in the bill, brewers and beer importers will also continue to support the implementation of grassroots programs in towns and cities across the country, and work with law enforcement, retailers, parents, educators, community groups, and others to truly make a difference in this fight.

The Beer Institute, established in 1986, is the national trade association for the brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. The Institute is committed to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.beerinstitute.org.



08 December, 2006