Sensible & Effective Drunk Driving Solutions

ABL's position, shared others in the beverage alcohol industry, is that states should consider legislation to impose ignition interlock devices for first-time high B.A.C. offenders and repeat offenders, and include judicial discretion as part of the sentencing process. ABL is adamantly opposed to federal legislation that includes an unfunded federal mandate providing for penalties on states that have not enacted or are not enforcing a law requiring the installation of an ignition interlock device for all first-time alcohol impaired driving offenders

Responsible Alcohol Sales and Underage Access Prevention

ABL has joined as a cosponsor of the Federal Trade Commission's We Don't Serve Teens underage drinking prevention campaign, voicing its complete opposition to underage alcohol purchases . ABL's goal is to ensure that licensed establishments do not allow anyone under the age of 21 to purchase alcohol. With 65% of youth-consumed alcohol coming from family and friends, parents have the greatest influence on minors' decisions to drink and should not provide alcohol to anyone under the legal purchase age.

Supporting the 21 st Amendment

ABL has been a long-time supporter of state-based alcohol regulation as laid out in the Three-Tier System. This regulatory structure, which the beverage alcohol industry has embraced, has acted as a means of assuring responsible commerce and economic success since the repeal of Prohibition. The Three-Tier System provides an economic mechanism for the orderly marketing and sale of alcohol beverages; functions to collect billions of dollars of applicable state and local taxes; prevents minors from obtaining alcohol; and has been validated by the Supreme Court.

Smart Tax Policy for Beverage Alcohol

ABL continues to advocate against raising alcohol excise taxes. Beverage alcohol is already the highest taxed consumer product in the U.S. and increasing tax rates on the beverage alcohol industry is counterproductive. Hospitality jobs and businesses depend on beverage alcohol sales. Increased beverage alcohol taxes penalize responsible, middle income consumers, not alcohol abusers . ABL will continue to work with its beverage alcohol industry allies to oppose alcohol tax increases.

Healthier Small Businesses Through Credit Card Fee Reform

ABL is a member of the Merchants Payments Coalition , a group of retailers, supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores, fuel stations, on-line merchants and other businesses who are fighting for a more competitive and transparent card system that works better for consumers and merchants alike. ABL strongly believes that credit card fee reform is a “bottom line” issue for retailers and if resolved, will allow them to provide more choices to customers and grow their businesses.

Stopping Contraband Tobacco

ABL has joined the Coalition to Stop Contraband Tobacco to help prevent illegal tobacco products from entering the marketplace. As tobacco product excise taxes increase, so do the prices of tobacco products. Criminal organizations exploit these increases by selling contraband or counterfeit tobacco products for their own financial gain and without regard to youth access prevention laws. This illicit activity deprives governments of tax revenue and hurts law-abiding businesses.

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