California Alcopops Battle

Today, advocates are working to make sure that California actually taxes alcopops at the rate of distilled spirits, enforces the law that they only be sold at retail establishments that hold the necessary license, and protects young people from alcohol marketing.

• Alcopops Video Shown Statewide

  A group of California high school students produced an educational video describing how the alcohol industry targets teenagers with alcopop products and advertising.

  Watch the video (wmv)
  
  

• New Focus Group Report

  The Center for Applied Research Solutions conducted a series of focus groups to find out what California teens are saying about the alcopops issue.

  Read the report (pdf)
  
  

• Hearing set for Senator Carole Migden's SB 1180 on Tuesday April 25 in Sacramento

  Read the proposed bill
  
  

• Media Coverage

  Take action on 'alcopops'
  San Francisco Chronicle, CA, April 19, 2006

  Students' alcohol video goes statewide (registration required)
  Fresno Bee, CA, April 16, 2006

  Drinks look like soda but they are adult beverages
  San Diego Union-Tribune, March 11, 2006

  Legislation, lawsuit aim to curb teen consumption of 'alcopop' drinks
  Argus-Courier, Petaluma, CA, February 15, 2006

  Alcopop TV coverage: "Alcopops" Become Center of Debate at Capitol
  

• Coalition News Releases

  See 3/10 news release
  See release from 2/14 press conference (pdf)
  See 1/17 press release
  See 10/11 press release

• Two bills addressing alcopops are now pending in Sacramento:
  • Senator Carole Migden's SB 1180 would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to issue a report on underage drinking and alcopop use among youth in California.
  • Assembly Member Lori Saldana's AB 2013 (pdf) would establish an Underage Drinking Prevention Fund with anticipated revenue gained from properly taxing alcopop sales.


• Governor says "NO" to girlie drinks - 10/11/2005

  In 2005, advocates in California dealt a blow to the alcohol industry when they succeeded in convincing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto legislation that would have reclassified alcopops -- sweetened, soda-pop style drinks such as Smirnoff Ice, Mike's Hard Lemonade, and Skyy Blue -- as "beer," even though they contain distilled alcohol. Under current California law, these beverages are classified as distilled spirits, which should mean higher taxes and availability at fewer retail outlets.
  
  See 10/11 Press Release
  See Background Briefing Paper (pdf)

• Alcopop case goes to California Supreme Court

  The California Court of Appeals refused to hear the Writ of Mandamus filed by the Public Law Group on behalf of members of the Coalition on Alcopops and Youth. The Court did not decide the case on its merits, so the proper classification of alcopops has still not been determined by a California court. In response, the Public Law Group has filed a Petition for Review with the California Supreme Court.

  Petition for Review (pdf)
  View the Writ of Mandate (pdf)
  Declaration of James F. Mosher (support) (pdf)
  California ABC Response to Writ (oppose) (pdf)
  Petitioners Response to ABC (support) (pdf)
  Flavored Malt Beverage Coalition Amicus (oppose) (pdf)
  Espinoza Declaration (oppose) (pdf)

• Young People Say Alcopops Preferred Beverage of Teen Girls

  Alcopops are the drink of choice for teenage girls. These sweet, bubbly drinks, also known as flavored malt beverages (including Smirnoff Ice, Mike's Hard Lemonade, and Skyy Blue) are designed to appeal to young people and are marketed to look and taste like they are not alcohol.

  See "Girlie Drinks" Report from the AMA
  
  "Which One Is Beer?" Powerpoint* Presentation on Alcopops (ppt)

*Viewing PPT files requires a PowerPoint viewer