Proposed California Legislation on Alcopops

AB 346 - An Act to Restrict Youth Access to Youth-friendly Alcohol Drinks

California Assembly Member Jim Beall introduced the bill in an effort to reduce underage drinking by limiting access to alcohol products with particular youth appeal, such as on alcohol-spiked “energy drinks,” pre-packaged “jello shots,” and sweet, drinkable ‘alcopops.’ 

The bill requires all products with packaging that is deemed similar to non-alcoholic products, such as energy drinks, sodas and fruit drinks  to display the following label: "Warning: Contains Alcohol." 

On April 26, 2007 AB346 bill passed out of the California State Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization. Bill Text (html) (pdf)

Fall 2007 Update

Jim Beall, (D-San Jose) has requested that AB-346 be moved to an inactive file, while he works to garners more support from the Schwarzenegger administration.

In a recent letter (view PDF) Renee Zito, Director of the California State Department of Alcohol and Drug Problems (ADP), unexpectedly opposed the bill.

Action on the bill will resume in January. Assembly Member Beall stated... “We’re working with the Administration during the recess to secure a signature next year.”

View the history of the bill

AB 345 - The Underage Drinking Prevention Act of 2007

Assembly Member Lori Saldana has introduced a bill aimed at reducing harm caused by alcopops. Highlights:

• Allocates the estimated $50 million in tax revenue resulting from the proper taxation of alcopops as distilled spirits to a fund dedicated to the prevention of underage drinking.
  
• Revenue from a new license fee for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of alcopops will also go into the fund.
  
• The fund will be divided among the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (20% for enforcement of underage drinking laws), the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (30% for market research, a media campaign, and assessment of youth recovery programs), and county health departments (50% for emergency/trauma services, youth recovery and prevention programs). Bill Text (html) (pdf)