Residents of the Buckeye state may finally have the opportunity to purchase stronger beer without crossing the state line.
State Representative Dan Ramos, (D- Lorain, Ohio) plans to re- introduce a bill this year that would increase the legal limit for beer sold in the state from its present 12 percent alcohol by volume up to 21 percent alcohol by volume. Many feel a change is necessary so that Ohio residents can purchase some of the stronger specialty products brewed in other states and also so that in state breweries can brew what they like and fill an important and growing market niche.
Reasons from a consumer standpoint notwithstanding, the increase makes sense from a business perspective. Ohio’s craft beer industry is growing, like it is in most of the nation. If the state’s craft brewing industry participants want to remain competitive, they need to be able to brew/sell stronger beer. Consumers want it and nearby states are already producing it, so it makes sense that Ohio brewers should be allowed to make it and consumers should be allowed to purchase it. In addition, it would be a smart move for increasing tax revenues and business in general. Consumers are forced to cross the state border to buy beer they should be allowed to buy in their local areas, robbing area businesses of sales and taking away tax revenue from the state.
This proposal is not the first time Ohioans have had to fight for their right to purchase the beer of their choosing. Back in 2002, Ohio activists successfully fought to increase the alcohol limit from 6 percent alcohol by weight (approximately 7 percent by volume) to 12 percent alcohol by volume. There was still some resistance to what was a very sensible proposal, but the bill passed and Ohio residents were finally able to purchase a large majority of the craft beers brewed in the United States. I was living in Ohio at the time and I can remember the struggle to get this law passed. Limiting beer to 6 percent by volume made absolutely no sense for a myriad of reasons, yet there were still those (The big three, Miller, Anheuser- Busch, and Coors, just to name a few) who
were trying to keep the lower limit in place.
Ohio legislators tried to pass a law increasing the alcohol limit on beer from 12 percent to 21 percent last year, but the law failed to gain approval. This time around, Dan Ramos has the backing of even more Ohio citizens and possibly more legislature members. There is even an online petition that activists can sign to express their stand on the issue and place additional pressure on state government leaders. The petition can be found at Change.org and can be directly accessed by clicking here.
Increasing the alcohol limit for beer from 6 percent to 12 percent faced business resistance back in 2002 because it allowed more products to compete against the Big 3 breweries. But with this proposal, the large breweries are not really affected much, so it is really an issue of general business and commerce, not to mention individual rights. The sensible solution is to increase the alcohol limit for beer so that Ohio can compete with other states and the consumers can purchase the beer of their choosing.
Keep up the good fight, Ohioans! Residents of other states with senseless restrictions on beer share your frustration and we back your efforts for reform 100 percent. Hopefully, this time around, common sense will prevail, the alcohol limit on beer will be increased, and Ohio residents can purchase the beverage of their choosing without interference from the state.
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