State Excise Police Cite Liquor Stores as Most Improved

Indiana State Excise Police have told the media that package liquor stores had the most improved numbers on non-compliance rates for sales to minors.

The numbers announced March 16 also document that the state's mandatory carding law is working. According to the state, there were 656 violations prior to the ID law being enacted. After the law was in effect in July, those rates dropped by two-thirds to just 220.

Package liquor stores recorded the most improvement between 2009 and 2010, with their non-compliance rate dropping from 41.16 percent in 2009 to 7.72 percent in 2010.

The Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers, one of Project RAD's statewide partners, has been a staunch supporter of the mandatory carding law and continues to testify in support of the bill-which lawmakers are now attempting to dismantle in this session

Members of the House passed a bill last month that would no longer require store clerks to card customers who appear older than 40. The measure has not passed the Senate.

Other numbers posted on the state's website:

Restaurant - 13.88% Non-Compliance (Down from 44.18% in 2009)

Grocery - 4.65% Non-Compliance (Down from 22.62% in 2009)

Private Clubs - 3.62% Non-Compliance (Down from 11.52% in 2009)

Hotels - 21.95% Non-Compliance (Down from 26.67% in 2009)

Drug Stores - 2.94% Non-Compliance (Down 15.42% in 2009)

Package Stores - 7.72% Non-Compliance (Down from 41.16% in 2009)

One Hoosier Columnist's Thoughts on Mandatory Carding 

Here's a humorous take from Eric Bernsee on the carding law. Eric writes "Daze Blog" at The Banner-Graphic in Greencastle. 

A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri, Eric Bernsee has enjoyed residing in Greencastle for more than 30 years. Years of consuming McDonald's iced teas, Dairy Castle flurries and Marvin's GCBs have helped make him the man he is today. The "Jeopardy" story he'd share with Alex Trebek would be about marrying wife Ruth (5 or 6 times) on a float in the 1998 Indianapolis 500 Parade.

IABR's Brad Rider Recognized by Drug Free Marion County

Brad Rider, chairman of the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers Board and CEO of United Package Liquors in Indianapolis, received the Community Service award from Drug Free Marion County at its annual meeting Wednesday.

According to the organization's news release:

"As chairman of the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers, Brad Rider has been instrumental in encouraging responsible sales practices that keep harmful ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug) products off the shelves and away from consumers - a policy that he himself follows in his role as president and CEO of United Package Liquors. In 2010, UPL voluntarily pulled from its stores a variety of high-caffeine, high-alcohol content beverages that had been linked with numerous health and safety problems among users, many of whom were college-age students. Through IABR, he led the initiative for a similar policy for package liquor stores across the state. He also championed the association's support of legislation banning the sale of synthetic marijuana products statewide."

The award honors those who have demonstrated exemplary actions or outstanding support for initiatives that address ATOD prevention, treatment or criminal justice issues.

Drug Free Marion County recognized a number of people with other awards at the meeting including:

• James Williams, head youth counselor for Young Men, Inc. Youth Ministry
• Tony Williamson, executive director of the St. Florian Center
• Kristin Peoples, parent advocate for Girl Scouts of America 
• George Brenner, Indiana's first licensed addictions counselor
• Mary McDaniel, civilian case manager and lead program specialist for the Marion County Sheriff's Department 

Notre Dame Receiver Suspended After Third Alcohol Incident

Notre Dame suspended star wide receiver Michael Floyd indefinitely a day after he was cited for drunken driving and authorities said his blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.

Coach Brian Kelly said the suspension will not be lifted until Floyd changes his behavior and both the legal and university discipline procedures run their course.

It was Floyd's third run-in with the law over alcohol since 2009.

Early Sunday morning, Floyd failed three sobriety tests that consisted of a standing on one leg, walking and turning around, and a finger count. He was stopped after 3 a.m. after he ran a stop light. The breathalyzer test showed he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19, well above Indiana's legal limit for driving of 0.08 percent.

"Football needs to take a backseat at the moment while Michael gets his life in order," Coach Kelly said. Floyd, who is considered Notre Dame's best offensive player, apologized and said he accepted the punishment.

Indiana Microbreweries Want State Production Cap Lifted

Indiana has 34 breweries, which last year made nearly 50,000 barrels of craft beers, but the vast majority are produced by three microbreweries, each of which is quickly approaching a state-imposed production cap.

A brewery that makes more than 20,000 barrels of beer a year exceeds limits of a 1993 state law that gives small breweries lower taxes and other benefits. The breweries want to raise the limit to 60,000 barrels.

If the microbreweries exceed the current limit, their state taxes would nearly double.

For the full article, click here.

Congressional Effort to Support State-Based Alcohol Regulation

Chaffetz was joined by Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), Howard Coble (R-N.C.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Gary Miller (R-Calif.), Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.) in sponsoring the legislation.

Referred to as the Community Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness (CARE) Act (H.R. 1161), this new legislation recognizes that alcohol is different from other consumer products and that it requires effective regulation.

The legislation also recognizes and reaffirms state authority to control the sale, distribution and consumption of alcohol as provided by the 21st Amendment. Perhaps most importantly, the CARE Act enables states to defend their alcohol laws from litigation designed to eviscerate state control over alcohol policy decisions.

Many groups representing alcohol producers, such as the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, are opposing the legislation. Those fighting the measure are some of the same pushing for expanded sales and less regulation in Indiana.

To track this bill and news coverage on the issue, click here.

Social Host Law Challenged on Constitutional Grounds

A St. Cloud man accused of violating the city's social host ordinance has challenged its constitutionality in what is likely the first such challenge to a law that has been adopted by cities and counties across the state.

Social host laws have been adopted by at least 59 cities and 12 counties in Minnesota, including Sherburne County in February, and are designed to hold accountable those who host gatherings at which underage attendees are drinking.

For the full story, click here.

Four Loko Back on Retail Shelves: Reformulated

The controversial alcoholic energy drinks Four Loko and Joose have been revamped - they no longer contain caffeine - and are back in stores, according to a report from Texas.

The dangerous combination of caffeine and alcohol in those beverages, known as a "blackout in a can," got them pulled from store shelves in December.

But the drink companies swiftly reformulated the concoctions. The caffeine-free formulas received approval from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in Texas, and the drinks went back on sale before the beginning of this year. Once the Nebraska Liquor Commission received notice of the approval, it green-lighted the fruit-flavored malt beverages for purchase in the state, according to Hobert Rupe, the commission's executive director.

The manufacturer of Four Loko, Phusion Projects of Chicago, saw the direction that regulators were leaning and announced in November that it would remove caffeine, guarana and taurine - common ingredients in energy drinks - from its alcohol products.

In Indiana, the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers asked its members to pull the drink from shelves last November and also asked the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission to take action. While the voluntary pull went into effect for package liquor stores, the ATC said it had no authority to regulate the suspect beverage.

Real Profits from Fake Weed: Bloomberg Report

Derek Williams was a trash truck driver before stumbling onto a way to earn a better living making synthetic marijuana. The 29-year-old has an uncanny knack for staying ahead of federal and state authorities by reformulating his mix, which is sold primarily in gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops. While the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a temporary ban on March 1, U.S. lawmakers are considering a permanent prohibition.

For the full article in Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, click here.

National Campaign Targets Prom Season

What do Archie Comics, MADD and Dallas Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten have in common?

It might sound like an odd combo, but the three are teaming up to bring home a message about underage drinking in an upcoming comic strip of "Archie Double Digest" No. 217-which opens with prom around the corner and plans for parties with parents out of town.

"The whole idea here is prevention. To prevent kids from drinking," Victor Gorelick, president and editor-in-chief of Archie Comics, told The Associated Press. "But a lot of parents know that this can be a big problem with teenagers, yet they have problems talking to their kids."

The timing of publication coincides with PowerTalk 21, an April 21 national event that seeks to have parents talking to their children about underage drinking.