Two separate efforts in California, one a youth-led initiative [anchor to BOE hearing] and the other a legal strategy [anchor to Santa Clara lawsuit], attempt to reduce youth access to “alcopops.”

Youth Group takes on the Board of Equalization

The teens, from the California Friday Night Live Partnership and California Youth Council, have petitioned the State Board of Equalization (BOE) to “appropriately tax flavored malt beverages as distilled spirits.”

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)

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Lawsuit Targets Alcopop Classification as 'Beer'

On Jan. 17, 2006 a coalition of youth advocates filed a lawsuit against the state of California in an attempt to force the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to limit the sales of alcopops, also termed Flavored Malt Beverage products, on grounds that they target underage consumers.

The suit also requires that FMB products be taxed as liquor products. Currently, FMBs are taxed 20 cents per gallon as beer products, but they would be taxed at $3.30 per gallon as liquor products if the suit is successful. View presentation - "Which One Is Beer?" (pdf)

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Not Convinced??
More Information on Alcopops

Sweet, Inexpensive `alcopops' worthy of More Regulation - NEW!
San Jose Mercury News, December 3, 2006

Fisher: Booze industry learning from Big Tobacco- NEW!
San Jose Mercury News, December 4, 2006

Focus Group Report - What Teens are Saying about Alcopops (pdf)
Center for Applied Research Solutions

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

"Girlie Drinks" - AMA Report