Bill: HB 1018, 84(R) - 2015

Committee

House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Vote No; Amend Negative Neutral Neutral Negative Neutral

Author(s)

Charlie Geren

Bill Caption

Relating to the prohibition of certain alcoholic beverages; creating an offense.

Fiscal Notes

No significant impact on the programs and workload of state corrections agencies or on the demand for resources and services of those agencies is anticipated from any provisions of the bill that authorize or require a change in the sanctions applicable to adults convicted of felony crimes.

Bill Analysis

HB 1018 seeks to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Code by expanding the definition of "illicit beverage" to include powdered alcohol. The bill would enact a statewide prohibition against manufacturing, importing, selling, or possessing for the purpose of sale to powdered alcohol.

Vote Recommendation Notes

HB 1018 seeks to make powdered alcohol an "illicit beverage" and illegal to manufacture, import, sell, or possess for the purpose of sale. HB 1018 is not attempting to regulate powdered alcohol like we regulate liquid alcohol.

Making powdered alcohol an illicit beverage will not prevent it from getting into the hands of children nor will it keep the product out of Texas. It should not go without notice that prohibition of alcohol has already been tried and it didn't work. To prohibit powdered alcohol would simply serve as a protectionist measure to benefit the economic interests of the existing alcohol industry.

HB 1018 would undermine the individual liberty and personal responsibility of who have the right to drink and possess alcohol and who wish to responsibly consume alcoholic beverages. 

Rather than cater to the special interests of the existing players in the alcohol industry by banning the competition, we encourage the legislature to simply amend this legislation to stipulate that powdered alcohol is subject to the same regulations as liquor. This would mean it could only be sold in the same types of stores, and under the same regulatory conditions, as other liquors that are already commonly sold in Texas. This would maintain a level playing field for existing businesses and new entrants into the market.

Absent such an amendment, we recommend legislators reject this legislation which is antithetical to free market and limited government principles. 


Source URL (retrieved on 03/29/2024 09:03 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/84r/hb1018?print_view=true