C
Concerned
Guest
Mormon church weighs in on 'alco-pop' sales issue
The Associated Press
January 17, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The Mormon church said Thursday it endorses the
idea of moving sweet malt beverages known as ``alco-pops'' out of Utah
retail stores and onto the shelves of state-run liquor shops.
The drinks, which have a 3.2 percent alcohol content, are popular with
underage drinkers and are sold in stores all over Utah.
``To allow the sale of distilled spirits in grocery and convenience
stores promotes underage drinking and undermines the state system of
alcohol control,'' said Kim Farah, a spokeswoman for The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah's leading religion.
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff believes the state should make it
tougher for teens to get the drinks. The legal drinking age is 21.
Utah's Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has asked the Legislature
to address the issue. Commission spokeswoman Sharon Mackay said the
decision was partly driven by a need to define flavored malt drinks in
state law.
Mackay said the commission has not been contacted by the Mormon
church.
The commission has prepared a draft bill that would define the drinks
as liquor, but no legislation has been formally introduced. Lawmakers
start their annual session Monday.
``The church agrees with the position of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Commission and the attorney general that the sale of distilled
spirits, including so-called alcopops, should be restricted to state
liquor stores,'' Farah said, reading from a statement.
With that statement, ``there's no doubt that the battle just got
tougher,'' James Olsen, president of the Utah Food Industry
Association, told The Salt Lake Tribune.
The group represents more than 8,000 stores that sell flavored malt
beverages.
Mormons are told to abstain from alcohol, but the church said it
supports the state's philosophy that alcohol should be ``reasonably
available'' to responsible adults.
http://www.truthandgrace.com/Mormon.htm
Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and
send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is
holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your
strength." Nehemiah 8:10
The Associated Press
January 17, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The Mormon church said Thursday it endorses the
idea of moving sweet malt beverages known as ``alco-pops'' out of Utah
retail stores and onto the shelves of state-run liquor shops.
The drinks, which have a 3.2 percent alcohol content, are popular with
underage drinkers and are sold in stores all over Utah.
``To allow the sale of distilled spirits in grocery and convenience
stores promotes underage drinking and undermines the state system of
alcohol control,'' said Kim Farah, a spokeswoman for The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah's leading religion.
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff believes the state should make it
tougher for teens to get the drinks. The legal drinking age is 21.
Utah's Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has asked the Legislature
to address the issue. Commission spokeswoman Sharon Mackay said the
decision was partly driven by a need to define flavored malt drinks in
state law.
Mackay said the commission has not been contacted by the Mormon
church.
The commission has prepared a draft bill that would define the drinks
as liquor, but no legislation has been formally introduced. Lawmakers
start their annual session Monday.
``The church agrees with the position of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Commission and the attorney general that the sale of distilled
spirits, including so-called alcopops, should be restricted to state
liquor stores,'' Farah said, reading from a statement.
With that statement, ``there's no doubt that the battle just got
tougher,'' James Olsen, president of the Utah Food Industry
Association, told The Salt Lake Tribune.
The group represents more than 8,000 stores that sell flavored malt
beverages.
Mormons are told to abstain from alcohol, but the church said it
supports the state's philosophy that alcohol should be ``reasonably
available'' to responsible adults.
http://www.truthandgrace.com/Mormon.htm
Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and
send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is
holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your
strength." Nehemiah 8:10