Properly Classify Alcopops
Opened on February 29, 2012
I as a North Carolina resident support the reclassification of "Alcopops " (sweetly flavored alcoholic product that contains liquor) from the beer category to a distilled spirit
WHEREAS, public health institutions acknowledge that the epidemic of underage drinking kills more youth than all other illicit drugs combined; and
WHEREAS, 2005 Monitoring the Future Data shows that 75% of current eighth grade drinkers and 65% of twelfth grader drinkers chose to consume alcopops in the past month; and
WHEREAS, alcopops are packaged and marketed in a way that encourages underage youth to drink them and are often “starter” drinks for youth; and
WHEREAS, Alcopops contain distilled spirits; and
WHEREAS, the 21st amendment of the US Constitution grants states sole authority over the sale, taxation and distribution of alcohol; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina law (NC GS 18B 101 (14)) states that any product containing spirits “regardless of its dilution” be classified as spirits; and
WHEREAS, states with similar statutes to that of NC have successfully reclassified alcopops to promote public health; and
WHEREAS, permitting alcopops to be classified as beer allows them to be taxed at 4-5 times less than if sold as a liquor which makes them much more affordable to youth;
WHEREAS, research shows that for every 10% increase in the price of alcohol there is a corresponding 5% reduction in consumption. Set at the proper tax rate, the increased cost of alcopops would significantly reduce consumption amongst young people; and
WHEREAS, the Marin Institute reported in 2007 that alcopops cost the state of North Carolina over $207 million, 10 lives and over 7500 incidents of harm in one year; and therefore
Be It Resolved, that I __________ (persons name) support the efforts of Take It Back NC to reverse improper tax classification and sales practices of alcopops in North Carolina-- classifications that jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of our state’s youth and cost North Carolina millions of dollars every year in lost tax revenue; and therefore,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: I join Take it Back NC and other groups in requesting the NC ABC Commission properly apply current state law to alcopops and classify them as spirits.
WHEREAS, public health institutions acknowledge that the epidemic of underage drinking kills more youth than all other illicit drugs combined; and
WHEREAS, 2005 Monitoring the Future Data shows that 75% of current eighth grade drinkers and 65% of twelfth grader drinkers chose to consume alcopops in the past month; and
WHEREAS, alcopops are packaged and marketed in a way that encourages underage youth to drink them and are often “starter” drinks for youth; and
WHEREAS, Alcopops contain distilled spirits; and
WHEREAS, the 21st amendment of the US Constitution grants states sole authority over the sale, taxation and distribution of alcohol; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina law (NC GS 18B 101 (14)) states that any product containing spirits “regardless of its dilution” be classified as spirits; and
WHEREAS, states with similar statutes to that of NC have successfully reclassified alcopops to promote public health; and
WHEREAS, permitting alcopops to be classified as beer allows them to be taxed at 4-5 times less than if sold as a liquor which makes them much more affordable to youth;
WHEREAS, research shows that for every 10% increase in the price of alcohol there is a corresponding 5% reduction in consumption. Set at the proper tax rate, the increased cost of alcopops would significantly reduce consumption amongst young people; and
WHEREAS, the Marin Institute reported in 2007 that alcopops cost the state of North Carolina over $207 million, 10 lives and over 7500 incidents of harm in one year; and therefore
Be It Resolved, that I __________ (persons name) support the efforts of Take It Back NC to reverse improper tax classification and sales practices of alcopops in North Carolina-- classifications that jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of our state’s youth and cost North Carolina millions of dollars every year in lost tax revenue; and therefore,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: I join Take it Back NC and other groups in requesting the NC ABC Commission properly apply current state law to alcopops and classify them as spirits.
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