Ohio - House Bill 356

Haven't heard about this but I like it!

 

All I want for Christmas...

 

I hope they pass this bill , It's completely Hippocratic to be able to buy 151 and Everclear but not a beer over 12%.. Come on Ohio let us have BCBS ...

 

I searched on the state's website to check on the status. It was introduced 10/26/11 and assigned to the State Government & Elections Committee. Cosponsored by 8 other reps and has gone nowhere as of now. raises ABV to 21% as stated and also adds a new subsection pertaining to caffeine & other stimulants.
Here is a link to the webpage http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_356

This is the new subsection 4301.71

Sec. 4301.71. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no beer containing more than twelve per cent of alcohol by volume shall include caffeine or other stimulants, including guarana, ginseng, or taurine.​

This section does not apply to beer that has incidental amounts of caffeine from coffee, chocolate, or tea.​

​

 

I keep trying to think of what their justification could be for an ABV cap and I'm coming up with nothing. Even making you buy high alcohol beer in a liquor store wouldn't make sense - you can grab watered down ~40 proof junk liquor on the shelf of a grocery store!

Someone start a petition to have this bill put on the table again.

 

This would be a pretty big game-changer. I would love to see this back to the forefront and passed!

 

Hmm, I don't remember Hippocrates writing anything about Everclear in the Oath...

 

I could have sworn it failed but maybe it was just tabled. There are a lot of big players pushing to keep this from happening and few of any consequence fighting for it. Add in the fact that these sorts of bills get attached to other bills and it becomes even easier to lose track of it or prevent it from being passed.

Doesn't matter what makes sense here, it's all about who's involved and whether there is significant and measurable benefit for making the change. Frankly making a few dozen beer geeks happy that they can buy BCBS and Utopias in state isn't much of a motivator. I remember seeing some quotes from industry folks claiming it would create jobs but I'm not sure if even I buy that, so it's but likely any politician would either.

I'm sure this will change eventually but not likely in the short term...

 

Who are these players?

 

BMC, Vinyards, Wine/Spirits producers etc.....

 

Ahh, it all makes sense. Still a shame

 

AB-InBev should support this, seeing as they now produce what is arguably the best/most popular beer of over 12% in these United States...

I kinda threw up in my mouth typing that, but BCBS is still pretty fantastic.

 

This has been in the works for years..... as far as a response from or even a agreement from the Senate of the state is a long shot......the only way they will ever change this law is if they really see a profit margin and or if a cash flow from new product. What it really comes down to is the power of a single bottled beverage. This means a single serve beverage " in their eyes" can be controlled upon to a alcohol cap.... in a single serve container.. what really doesn't help us is everybody wants a stronger alc% in a (24oz can) the state feels the need to control this by putting a cap on Ohio... I'm sorry but Ohio is a alc% fiend in regards to high alcohol % in single serves... more bang from our Buck in inner cities for a lesser price which the state makes pennies upon pennies of profit. They want to see dollars! !!

 

I can't see any movement on this for a while - at least until after the new legislature convenes in January.

 

Actually you can't buy real full proof everclear in Ohio either, as there is also a liquor abv cap.

 

Liquor Schmiquor, I'm sick of hoarding beers over 12% because I don't know when I'll be able to get them again. Ohio is one of the best states for beer, so why not make it better?

12% ABV cap? I ain't even 'bout it.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if some Ohio brewers fudge the numbers on their bottles and they're really higher than 12%....

 

Wasn't this the bill that got lumped into the state budget vote last year? Pretty sure it died when that budget didn't get approved.

 

I don't know about Ohio brewers, but I know at least a couple out of state brewers have done it before to allow certain beers of theirs to be sold here.