Unopposed to Death by Obesity
From the April 9, 2009, Alabama Baptist:
Godfrey said those who want to legalize home brewing compare themselves to those who compete in barbecue competitions.
“My response to that is that I’ve never heard of anyone being killed while under the influence of barbecue,†he said. ...
“We would have no idea of who’s drinking this. This is another reason we need to discourage home brewing,†Godfrey said.
Alabama home brewers and winemakers need your help TODAY!!
The number of days remaining in the 2009 Alabama legislative session are dwindling. There are only a few session days remaining, and the work of the Senate keeps grinding to a halt due to filibusters. Democrats are filibustering over the inability to pass legislation related to gambling and sales tax on food, while Republicans in both houses of the Alabama legislature feel slighted by Democrats, the controlling party.
The following key individuals in the Alabama Senate need to be contacted and urged to help SB492 permitting home brewing and winemaking get through the logjam, with these key points being made:
* Most Democrats favor the bill. This is a perfect opportunity for the Democratic controlled Senate to pass a Republican sponsored bill in a display of fairness with respect to which party's bills get to come up for a vote.
* Alabama is one of only 4 states that has not updated their statutes since Prohibition to explicitly permit home brewing and winemaking for noncommercial purposes in a limited quantity. This failure hurts the state's image and economy.
* Passing SB492 will demonstrate that the Senate is willing consider bills backed by ordinary citizens, and not only those backed by deep pockets and paid lobbyists, a habit the Senate has faced increasing scrutiny over.
Here are the Senators to contact who can help legalize the home brewing hobby in Alabama:
Senator Lowell Barron, Rules Committee Chairman
Fax: (334) 353-8277
Secretary’s Email: louise.fenn@alsenate.gov
Phone: (334) 242-7858
Lt. Governor Jim Folsom
Fax: (334) 242-4661
Secretary's Email: marilyn.taylor@ltgov.alabama.gov
Phone: (334) 242-7900
Senator Phil Poole
Fax: (334) 242-8818
Secretary's Email: carol.bullard@alsenate.gov
Phone: (334) 242-7889
Senator Rodger Smitherman
Fax: (334) 353-7123
Email: rodger.smitherman@alsenate.gov
Phone: (334) 242-7870
Senator Zeb Little
Fax: (334) 353-3970
Secretary’s Email: senatemail@gmail.com
Phone: (334) 242-7855
Below is the full article from the Alabama Baptist News:
Proposed legislation in Alabama would legalize home-brewed beer
By Greg Heyman
April 9, 2009
A new bill in the Alabama Senate not only would legalize home production of alcohol but also would allow the makers to transport their products to competitions in other states and legalize these contests in the state.
Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery, who is the sponsor of Senate Bill 492, said he anticipates the legislation will pass out of the Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee during the first week of April.
The bill would permit production of home-brewed beer, mead, cider and wine for personal use, as well as display at organized tasting and judging events.
Both Dixon and a home-brew advocate group characterize this legislation as a move to let law-abiding citizens pursue a hobby and participate in competitions with other home-brewers. However, Joe Godfrey, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program, offered a different perspective on the issue.
Godfrey said those who want to legalize home brewing compare themselves to those who compete in barbecue competitions.
“My response to that is that I’ve never heard of anyone being killed while under the influence of barbecue,†he said.
Godfrey said all this bill really does is remove the illegality of making alcoholic products in one’s home. He fears the situation could get out of control if the alcohol produced is not licensed. The matter of licensing is not covered by the bill.
“When you manufacture alcohol, you have to have a license. There’s no control over [home-brews],†Godfrey said.
He also expressed concern that this legislation would make alcohol more accessible to minors.
“We would have no idea of who’s drinking this. This is another reason we need to discourage home brewing,†Godfrey said.
Dixon explained that he introduced the bill after members of the Auburn Brew Club approached him during the Legislative Tourism Bash on March 10 in Montgomery. The bash is an annual event sponsored by the Alabama Tourism Department in which individuals and groups highlight foods and attractions available in different areas of the state.
“These people from the Auburn club came, and they had different kinds of beer. They were giving out little samples,†Dixon said.
According to John Little, a member of the club, home-brewers in Alabama just want to participate in a hobby allowed elsewhere. Currently Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky and West Virginia prohibit home brewing, he said.
Little said home-brewers enjoy studying beers produced in other countries and attempting to recreate them. From there, the brews are entered into competitions in which they are rated by judges who have completed a certification program in analyzing the products in terms of flavor and aroma.
“We enjoy sending off our beers, wines, meads and ciders to these competitions to get feedback and try to do better next time,†Little said.
He stressed that the bill would not allow anyone under legal drinking age to make home-brew and would not permit distillation of liquor.
“It only has to do with beer, mead, cider and wine,†Little said, noting the home-brews “cannot be offered for sale at all.â€
