the keg bill is going to fail
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Legislation passed by the state Senate to ban keg beer from private parties is going flat in the House.
"That thing will not see the light of day again this session," said Rep. Randy Hinshaw, D-Meridianville. "I'll kill it myself."
Hinshaw heads a subcommittee of the House Tourism and Travel Committee, where the legislation is now sitting.
On Jan. 17, the Senate passed the bill by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, who wanted to try to curb underage drinking by banning the sale of keg beer for private parties. His bill, which passed 30-0, would only allow bars and restaurants to have beer kegs.
On Wednesday, the House Tourism and Travel Committee voted to send Singleton's bill along with another by Rep. Jamie Ison, R-Mobile, to Hinshaw's subcommittee for study. Ison's bill would create a statewide keg registration system. If police found a keg of beer at a party with underage drinking, they could use the registration to determine which business sold the keg and who bought it.
Hinshaw told the Mobile Register that his subcommittee will work on Ison's bill rather than Singleton's.
Singleton's legislation, and a similar ban sponsored by Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, had drawn criticism at college campuses and from some merchants who sell kegs. Committee Chairman Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay, said his committee wants to cut underage drinking. "It's just a matter of figuring out how best to do it," he said. Mobile County already has a keg registration system like Ison wants to institute statewide. That system grew out of police having problems with outdoor keg beer parties, often called "field parties," attended by crowds of people under 21. A 16-year-old died after one party in Semmes.
One item of dispute in Ison's registration bill is the proposed $1 fee for each keg. The fee, which would be paid by the purchaser, would be divided equally between the retailer and the state liquor agency. Rep. Eric Major, D-Birmingham, said he opposes having the charge.
"That thing will not see the light of day again this session," said Rep. Randy Hinshaw, D-Meridianville. "I'll kill it myself."
Hinshaw heads a subcommittee of the House Tourism and Travel Committee, where the legislation is now sitting.
On Jan. 17, the Senate passed the bill by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, who wanted to try to curb underage drinking by banning the sale of keg beer for private parties. His bill, which passed 30-0, would only allow bars and restaurants to have beer kegs.
On Wednesday, the House Tourism and Travel Committee voted to send Singleton's bill along with another by Rep. Jamie Ison, R-Mobile, to Hinshaw's subcommittee for study. Ison's bill would create a statewide keg registration system. If police found a keg of beer at a party with underage drinking, they could use the registration to determine which business sold the keg and who bought it.
Hinshaw told the Mobile Register that his subcommittee will work on Ison's bill rather than Singleton's.
Singleton's legislation, and a similar ban sponsored by Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, had drawn criticism at college campuses and from some merchants who sell kegs. Committee Chairman Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay, said his committee wants to cut underage drinking. "It's just a matter of figuring out how best to do it," he said. Mobile County already has a keg registration system like Ison wants to institute statewide. That system grew out of police having problems with outdoor keg beer parties, often called "field parties," attended by crowds of people under 21. A 16-year-old died after one party in Semmes.
One item of dispute in Ison's registration bill is the proposed $1 fee for each keg. The fee, which would be paid by the purchaser, would be divided equally between the retailer and the state liquor agency. Rep. Eric Major, D-Birmingham, said he opposes having the charge.