If you like good beers, help get NC House Bill 392 passed in the Senate! This bill will raise the % alcohol by volume, %ABV, limit for beer from 6% to 15%.

This bill was all but passed in the State Senate last week, until Sen Kerr from district 5 pulled it back into (his) Finance Committee. If you're one of his constituents, call his office and tell him you support HB392.

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=S&nUserID=35

Here's his office number: 919.733.5621

7/12/2005 2:51:18 PM

How about soaring budget deficits?

I don't think anyone will be contacting their congressmen about anything that really matters.

7/12/2005 2:57:29 PM

alcohol content in beer is something they could actually do something about

7/12/2005 3:11:16 PM

Why do you want it raised? Can you not afford hard-liquor?

7/12/2005 3:16:22 PM

They could do something about the budget too, if they wanted to. But cutting programs might not get them re-elected.

7/12/2005 3:28:57 PM

Basically half of the beer styles are unavailable because of this law. It's equivalent to outlawing port and sherry from wine.

[Edited on July 12, 2005 at 3:30 PM. Reason : ]

7/12/2005 3:29:51 PM

http://www.popthecap.org

7/12/2005 3:37:37 PM

Ahh, got it. Well, lets repeal this birch!

7/12/2005 3:37:51 PM

that's what I'm hoping for - I just like exotic beers on occasion, and there's a shit-ton that can't be sold here.

Check out http://www.samadams.com

or

http://www.beerknurd.com and check out the Tennessee location's menu. See alot of beers that don't look familiar, don't you?

7/12/2005 3:42:16 PM

from popthecap.org:

Quote :

"5.Pass the Senate floor - scheduled for Thursday, July 7 at 11 AM 6. Signature by the governor (or, after ten days of passage by the second chamber, a non-signature, which amounts to the same thing) - at the latest, July 17"

Did it already hit the senate floor? Won't this be old news by next week?

7/12/2005 3:42:16 PM

it hit the senate floor, and then Senator Kerr pulled it off the floor because he wanted his Finance committee to review the bill.

Check out the blog on popthecap

here's an excerpt describing what Kerr did, and what PTC needs:

Quote :

"Many of you have heard that a single senator recommended that HB392 be placed into finance committee. This is a glitch - a last-ditch attempt to delay us, most likely organized by an odd alliance of, well, let's just call them "strange bedfellows." What do we do now? Stay positive, wait for next steps, and expect that this law WILL change this summer. "

Kerr has co-sponsored a bill on wine, so I'm kind of confused about why he would block a beer bill.

[Edited on July 12, 2005 at 3:48 PM. Reason : quote]

7/12/2005 3:44:03 PM

possibly because beer manufacturers are not the same people as wine manufacturers

7/12/2005 4:01:33 PM

it's still hypocritical to sponsor a bill that helps vineyards and wine sales, but pigeonhole a similarly-intended bill for beer . . . .

7/12/2005 5:16:03 PM

WHAT??? Politicians are hypocritical and pander to whoever happens to be lining their pocket at the moment, I had no idea. Someone call the press!

7/12/2005 5:30:04 PM

please come to the legislative building today (Wednesday the 13th) at 10am for critical in-person lobbying of undecided legislators and finance committee senators.

7/13/2005 9:24:28 AM

Quote :

"How about soaring budget deficits? "

Don't you know? It'll increase beer sales, increase the number of expensive, premium beers, and thus increase alcohol tax revinues!

7/14/2005 4:16:51 PM

PASSED YESTERDAY -

Easley has until Aug 13th to sign or veto. It becomes law on the 14th if he does nothing before then

8/4/2005 8:52:05 AM