On Monday the House of Representatives rejected a bill expanding alcohol content in beer and malt beverages in Arkansas.

H.B. 1173 by Rep. Matt Brown (R — Conway) and Sen. Scott Flippo (R — Bull Shoals) raises the legal alcohol content for beer from 5% to 14% alcohol by weight, and it allows malt beverages to contain up to 21% alcohol by weight. Under this measure, beer could contain nearly three times as much alcohol as it currently does.

The bill passed the House Rules Committee last week, but it failed in the Arkansas House of Representatives, where only 36 members voted for the bill on Monday.

As we have written before, alcohol is already readily available in Arkansas. Any law expanding its strength, availability, or consumption raises serious concerns about DUI offenses, crime, public health, and public safety.

That is why Family Council generally opposes the expansion of alcohol in Arkansas.

The Following Representatives Voted FOR H.B. 1173

  • Achor
  • F. Allen
  • Andrews
  • Beck
  • K. Brown
  • M. Brown
  • N. Burkes
  • Clowney
  • Dalby
  • Eaton
  • Eubanks
  • K. Ferguson
  • Furman
  • D. Garner
  • Gramlich
  • Hall
  • Hollowell
  • L. Johnson
  • Long
  • Lynch
  • Magie
  • McCollum
  • B. McKenzie
  • J. Moore
  • Nazarenko
  • Painter
  • Perry
  • Pilkington
  • J. Richardson
  • Schulz
  • R. Scott Richardson
  • T. Shephard
  • M. Shepherd
  • Steimel
  • Walker
  • Warren

The Following Representatives Voted AGAINST H.B. 1173

  • Barnes
  • Barnett
  • Beaty Jr.
  • A. Brown
  • R. Burkes
  • Joey Carr
  • Cavenaugh
  • A. Collins
  • C. Cooper
  • Cozart
  • Crawford
  • Duke
  • Ennett
  • Gazaway
  • Henley
  • Hudson
  • Jean
  • Ladyman
  • Lundstrum
  • Maddox
  • J. Mayberry
  • McAlindon
  • McCullough
  • M. McElroy
  • McGrew
  • McGruder
  • McNair
  • S. Meeks
  • Milligan
  • K. Moore
  • Puryear
  • Ray
  • Rose
  • Rye
  • Steele
  • Torres
  • Tosh
  • Unger
  • Vaught
  • D. Whitaker
  • Womack
  • Wooldridge
  • Wooten
  • Gonzales Worthen

The Following Representatives Voted “Present” on H.B. 1173

  • Barker
  • Bentley
  • S. Berry
  • Brooks
  • John Carr
  • Childress
  • Eaves
  • Gonzales
  • Hawk
  • Holcomb
  • Pearce
  • Richmond
  • Underwood
  • Wing

The Following Representatives Did Not Vote

  • Breaux
  • Duffield
  • Evans
  • McClure
  • Springer
  • Wardlaw

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.