Legislation Filed to Double the Alcohol Content in Beer

Alcohol,

A bill filed on Wednesday would dramatically expand the alcohol content in beer and malt beverages in Arkansas.

S.B. 564 by Sen. Scott Flippo (R — Bull Shoals) and Rep. Matt Brown (R — Conway) raises the legal alcohol content for beer from 5% to 10% alcohol by weight, and it allows malt beverages to contain up to 21% alcohol by weight.

S.B. 564 is very similar to a bad bill the Arkansas House of Representatives rejected in February.

Under this measure, the alcohol content in beer could double. That could make stronger alcoholic drinks more widely available in stores and other locations where beer is currently sold across Arkansas.

At this point, alcohol is 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.

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

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Arkansas Senate Puts Alcohol Delivery Bill on Ice

Alcohol,

On Monday a measure expanding alcohol delivery in Arkansas failed receive enough votes to pass in the state senate.

Generally speaking, state law did not make it possible for stores to deliver alcohol directly to people’s homes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers first enacted alcohol delivery legislation following COVID lockdowns.

S.B. 98 by Sen. Breanne Davis (R — Russellville) and Rep. John Maddox (R — Mena) expands alcohol delivery in Arkansas.

The measure expands the list of stores that can deliver alcohol to include grocery stores, small farm wine convenience stores, and retail beer sellers. The bill also lets delivery companies obtain permits to deliver alcohol to consumers on behalf of the stores.

Currently, retailers are directly responsible for ensuring all alcohol deliveries comply with state laws — including laws against delivering to minors. S.B. 98 shifts liability from the retailer to the delivery service.

Right now, retailers have accountability in following alcohol laws. Under S.B. 98, alcohol deliverers may not have the same amount of oversight or accountability — which, for example, could increase the likelihood of alcohol being delivered to a minor.

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.

Although S.B. 98 failed to pass on Monday, the measure could be brought back up for another vote in the future.

The Following Senators Voted FOR S.B. 98

  • J. Boyd
  • J. Bryant
  • Crowell
  • B. Davis
  • J. Dismang
  • J. English
  • Flippo
  • Hester
  • Irvin
  • M. Johnson
  • G. Leding
  • M. McKee
  • Stone
  • D. Sullivan
  • D. Wallace

The Following Senators Voted AGAINST S.B. 98

  • A. Clark
  • Dees
  • S. Flowers
  • Gilmore
  • Hickey
  • Hill
  • F. Love
  • J. Payton
  • C. Penzo
  • Rice
  • J. Scott
  • G. Stubblefield

The Following Senators Did Not Vote

  • Caldwell
  • J. Dotson
  • K. Hammer
  • B. Johnson
  • B. King
  • R. Murdock
  • J. Petty
  • C. Tucker

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Arkansas House Rejects Bill to Expand Alcohol Content in Beer

Alcohol,

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.

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