This strikes us as illogical. If the alcohol content of two beverages is the same, why should one be sold only in a state liquor store, with a much higher price markup, while another is available at a grocery store?
Admittedly, beverage manufacturers have blurred the line between malt beverages and liquor. Flavored malt beverages are not your father's Colt 45. Rather, many FMBs derive nearly all of their alcohol from flavorings containing distilled spirits rather than from fermentation, as beer does.
Under federal and state laws, distilled spirits are taxed and regulated differently than beer.
But that's only part of the problem. People concerned about under-age drinking complain that flavored malt beverages are pitched to young people, especially women, who don't like the taste of beer but will drink something sweet or fruity. The labeling of some FMBs also is confusing to consumers, who, the critics complain, aren't always aware that the drinks contain the same amount of alcohol as a beer.
We're all in favor of clear product labeling. We will point out, however, that the federal Treasury Department already requires the same health warning on these products as appears on beer packaging.
Still, the Utah liquor regulators want to approve labels so that they clearly put the buyer on notice that the product contains alcohol. The commission also wants to prohibit the use of any symbol, cartoon character or childhood figure that primarily appeals to minors.
In the event that manufacturers reformulate FMBs by eliminating distilled spirits from them so that they can be sold in grocery stores, the liquor commission wants the alcoholic beverages clearly separated from non-alcoholic ones, and a sign posted warning people to read the labels on malt beverages carefully.
The labeling and display requirements make some sense. But we still don't see why two beverages with the same alcohol content should not be sold together in the same store.
If the alcohol content of two beverages is the same, why should one be sold only in a state liquor store while another is available at a grocery store?
