2900 S. Quincy St., Suite 800 Arlington, VA 22206 Tuesday, December 31, 2019 www.nabca.org | [email protected] NABCA would like to wish you a Happy New Year and thank you for all your support throughout the year. We look forward to providing you more news in 2020. Happy New Year! • New whiskeys, rye (and a hurricane relief rum) coming to Virginia’s state-run liquor stores • TABC has a message for those crossing alcohol TODAY’S • Health warning issued over fake booze HIGHLIGHTS • Some Solid Advice on New Year's Resolutions That Might Stick • Who Wins Wine's Trade War? • Are Liquor Stores Open On New Year's Eve 2019: State Opening Hours For Buying Alcohol (excerpt) CONTROL STATE NEWS He acknowledged the majority of arrests were well above .08. UT: Utah marks one year with .05, the nation’s toughest "Absolutely. In fact, I think looking at last year’s numbers, anti-drunk driving law the 2018 numbers, about 7% were below .08," Col. FOX 13 Now Rapich added. "The numbers we’re tracking right now the By Ben Winslow percentage is lower." December 30, 2019 The final numbers will be made public in late January. SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Highway Patrol is compiling Lawmakers, industry groups and policy watchdogs have data from the first year of the nation's toughest anti- been eagerly anticipating them. drunk driving law. For David Morris, the president of the Utah Hospitality But so far, the state has not recorded a significant Association, a group that represents bar owners number of DUIs at the new blood alcohol level of .05. statewide, the numbers given out so far aren't terribly "On average, the state of Utah in total law enforcement surprising. agencies arrest about 10,000 DUIs a year," UHP Colonel "I think people are being responsible, people are being Michael Rapich said. "We’re within the ballpark of that smarter, they have options now," he said. this year. Maybe a little more than that." Morris, who owns the popular Piper Down bar on the Speaking on "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy edge of downtown Salt Lake City, said he has seen more Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, rideshares to and from his establishment. It's convenient, Col. Rapich said the data was still being gathered. not cost-prohibitive and doesn't require someone to be Alcohol-related crashes were on a downward trend. Of the designated driver, he said. the approximately 10,000 DUI arrests statewide, about "People respond better to a carrot than a stick. It just is. 7% were at a level below .08 (the old legal limit). So if you can go have fun, have a good time and be safe, In the first quarter of 2019, the UHP recorded 2,713 that’s what you’re going to choose," Morris said. "But arrests statewide. But of those, only 135 were from .05 we’re in a place where we end public transportation to .079. before we end the sale of alcohol." "I can tell you this, from tracking it every quarter and When the Utah State Legislature passed .05, making Utah every month, it seems to be pretty consistent from what the nation's toughest anti-drunk driving law, hospitality we’ve seen in the first quarter," Col. Rapich said. and tourism groups worried it would have a negative impact. Utah already has a perception of "weird" liquor 2 laws. An alcohol beverage lobbying group ran ads "We've been here 55 years, I've never seen it this bad," mocking Utah with the tag line "come on vacation, leave said Rich McCarius, owner of Tom's Party Store. "It's on probation." certainly not at a lever that we need to do business, especially this holiday season." Morris said his bar sales are flat compared to previous years, but he doesn't know if .05 is a factor. Like the UHP, Since the shortage began in November, the distributor he wants to see more data. But Morris noted the majority says they've fixed some of the problems, but it's still not of arrests still being well above the old legal limit. enough. "I think .05, the legislation is a distraction from what we "They've sent out postcards apologizing, said McCarius. should be focusing on which is the guys at .16," Morris "But those don't really help us." said. "Those are the guys causing the crashes, those are McCarius said they get their liquor from Republic the guys killing people." National Distributing; he says their orders are missing So far, there has been no appetite in the legislature to everything from bottom-shelf liquors to the hard to find modify or repeal .05. Many lawmakers on Utah's Capitol bottles. Hill have told FOX 13 they believe it is here to stay. Now, "We just can't get it from the distributor," he said. "This other states have contacted the UHP and expressed is where we're making our bread and butter. If we can't interest in their highway safety data as they are get it, then we're just some guy on the street now." considering their own legislation to lower the blood alcohol level. There's concern the shortage will affect business on New Year’s Eve, when liquor stores expect to make the most Col. Rapich said he was supportive of it, arguing it has money. been a good policy to help reduce drunk driving and alcohol-related crashes. "This is a devastating blow during a season when they have to make a good part of their living...they want "It’s not taking any kind of an attack against the drinking customers to know they can come in" Douglas Stites, a population or the alcohol industry," he said. "It’s about customer of the party store, said. making good decisions and let’s not have tragedies on the road." McCarius said he's running of patience with the distributor. The Utah Highway Patrol was gearing up for a DUI enforcement blitz on New Year's Eve, but it is not the top "They need to get it fixed...it's just been too long. holiday for drunk driving. The agency said that would be Something should have been done by now." the annual state holiday of Pioneer Day, which has held A representative from the distributor said they're getting the title for about 10 years now, followed by Halloween. closer to being able to fulfill complete shipments, and that it's not uncommon for there to be shortages during the holiday season. MI: Stores still hurting from statewide liquor shortage The delivery issues were a result of consolidating WILX distributions to a facility in the Detroit area. By Kellan Buddy December 30, 2019 EAST LANSING, MI. (WILX) -- It's been over a month and a VA: New whiskeys, rye (and a hurricane relief rum) half since Republic National Distributing experienced coming to Virginia’s state-run liquor stores software problems, affecting local businesses. WTOP News 10 caught up with the owner of Tom's Party Store December 30, 2019 in East Lansing. The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority is set to He said a month and a half later, they're getting deliveries add 47 new products to the shelves of state-run liquor on time, but they're still missing a lot of product. stores in 2020, including a rum whose proceeds help fund hurricane recovery in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He said ahead of one of their highest-selling days, with the upcoming holiday, he's worried they'll start to lose Five of those new products are made in Virginia itself. money. Virginia ABC reviews products submitted by distillers and 3 suppliers four times a year to decide which will be sold at LICENSE STATE NEWS more than 375 stores across the state. One of the new products is a Cruzan rum (pronounced TX: TABC has a message for those crossing alcohol croo’-shun) produced on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin KGNS Islands named Hurricane Proof Rum. The spirit is bottled December 30, 2019 at 137 proof as a nod to the speed that qualifies a LAREDO, TX (KGNS) - For anyone heading into Mexico and hurricane as a Category 5 storm. coming back to the U.S. with alcohol, a state agency Part of the proceeds from Hurricane Proof Rum sales will wants to highlight a few rules you should keep in mind. go to the Island Spirit Fund, which provides financial aid With paisano season still in full force, the Texas Alcohol to Virgin Islands communities impacted by back-to-back Beverage Commission wants to ensure everyone has a Category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria in September quick and safe trip. 2017. They're reminding the public that when crossing with New made-in-Virginia products that will be carried at alcohol you must stop at a TABC port of entry facility so Virginia ABC stores include Laird’s 10th Generation Apple they can inspect what you have. Brandy-Bottled-in-Bond 5 Year from Albermarle County, Virago 151 Rum from Richmond, Trump Sauvignon Blanc The state also requires you to pay a small tax and from Charlottesville and freeze-dried lemon and lime administrative fee on any spirits, wine or beer. cocktail garnishes from Buoys in Richmond. TABC spokesperson Chris Porter says every year they see Per a Virginia ABC news release, other new products a large number of people bringing in alcohol.