Maryland General Assembly Passes Ban on Retail Sale of Extreme-Strength Alcohol
During the 2015 Legislative Session, the Maryland General Assembly Passed a Ban on the Retail Sale of Extreme-Strength (190 proof and above) Alcohol
Extreme-Strength Alcohol Poses a Real Threat to College Students
Nationally, more than 1,800 college students die each year as a result of alcohol – a rate of nearly five per day. Nearly 600,000 are injured; nearly 700,000 are assaulted; and nearly 100,000 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault.1
- In Maryland, approximately one in five college students meet the criteria for alcohol dependence or abuse, and one in three report having driven with a drinking driver.2
- Extreme-strength alcohol poses a real threat to college students because:
- They are more likely to drink distilled spirits than they were 20 years ago;3
- They tend to “overpour” drinks,4 making a strong drink stronger in a student’s hands; and
- The tasteless, odorless, colorless nature of extreme-strength alcohol makes it almost impossible for inexperienced or unsuspecting drinkers to know what they are drinking and adjust their behavior accordingly.
- Underage binge drinkers are 36.5 times more likely to drink extreme-strength alcohol than underage non-bingers.5
Extreme-Strength Alcohol’s Low Price Makes It Even More Dangerous
- Recognized by leading brand names Everclear and Gem Clear, grain alcohol is a distilled neutral spirit that lacks a distinctive taste or smell.
- A 750ML bottle of Everclear or Gem Clear ranges in price from $15 to $17.
- The federal government defines a “drink” as 1.5 ounces of 80 proof alcohol.6 A 750 ML (25.36 ounce) bottle of 190 proof grain alcohol contains approximately 16.9 drinks.
- At $15 per bottle, this is less than a dollar a drink.
At Least 16 States Ban Sales of Extreme-Strength Alcohol
- Maryland’s neighbors ban sales of extreme-strength alcohol, with limited exceptions for industrial, commercial, culinary, or medical uses:
- Virginia: Banned above 101 proof or 50.5% ABV.7
- Pennsylvania: Banned at or above 190 proof or 95% ABV.8
- West Virginia: Banned at or above 190 proof or 95% ABV.9
- Other states’ bans go much farther than S.B. 75, including:
- California: Banned above 120 proof or 60% ABV.10
- Florida: Banned above 153 proof or 76.5% ABV (sales and consumption).11
- Minnesota: Banned above 160 proof or 80% ABV.12
Updated February 2015
REFERENCES
- Hingson RW, Zha W, Weitzman ER. Magnitude of and trends in alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. college students ages 18-24, 1998-2005. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, July (Suppl 16): 12-20, 2009. http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/statssummaries/snapshot.aspx. Accessed October 28, 2013.
- Maryland Collaborative to Reduce College Drinking and Related Problems. (2013). College Drinking in Maryland: A Status Report. Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD; and the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD. Available at www.marylandcollaborative.org/resources/docs/MDreport.pdf.
- http://www.gallup.com/poll/163787/drinkers-divide-beer-wine-favorite.aspx).
- White, A. M., Kraus, C. L., Flom, J. D., Kestenbaum, L. A., Mitchell, J. R., Shah, K. and Swartzwelder, H. S. (2005), College Students Lack Knowledge of Standard Drink Volumes: Implications for Definitions of Risky Drinking Based on Survey Data. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 29: 631–638. Accessed October 25, 2013.
- According to preliminary results from the first national survey to track youth alcohol consumption by brand. E-mail correspondence from Michael B. Siegel, Boston University School of Public Health, to David Jernigan, 13 January 2014.
- http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/ToolsResources/DrinkSizeCalculator.asp
- VA Administrative Code Title 3 Agency 5 Chapter 70 §200 2013 http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+reg+3VAC5-70-200
- Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Regulations Title 40 PA CODE §11.3 A (2013)
- Interview with West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Commission 2013
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 23403 (2013)
- Florida Code Title XXIV Alcohol Beverages and Tobacco Chapter 565.07 (2013)
- Minn. Stat. § 340A.506 (2013)
Maryland General Assembly Passes Ban on Retail Sale of Extreme-Strength Alcohol
During the 2015 Legislative Session, the Maryland General Assembly Passed a Ban on the Retail Sale of Extreme-Strength (190 proof and above) Alcohol
Extreme-Strength Alcohol Poses a Real Threat to College Students
Nationally, more than 1,800 college students die each year as a result of alcohol – a rate of nearly five per day. Nearly 600,000 are injured; nearly 700,000 are assaulted; and nearly 100,000 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault.1
- In Maryland, approximately one in five college students meet the criteria for alcohol dependence or abuse, and one in three report having driven with a drinking driver.2
- Extreme-strength alcohol poses a real threat to college students because:
- They are more likely to drink distilled spirits than they were 20 years ago;3
- They tend to “overpour” drinks,4 making a strong drink stronger in a student’s hands; and
- The tasteless, odorless, colorless nature of extreme-strength alcohol makes it almost impossible for inexperienced or unsuspecting drinkers to know what they are drinking and adjust their behavior accordingly.
- Underage binge drinkers are 36.5 times more likely to drink extreme-strength alcohol than underage non-bingers.5
Extreme-Strength Alcohol’s Low Price Makes It Even More Dangerous
- Recognized by leading brand names Everclear and Gem Clear, grain alcohol is a distilled neutral spirit that lacks a distinctive taste or smell.
- A 750ML bottle of Everclear or Gem Clear ranges in price from $15 to $17.
- The federal government defines a “drink” as 1.5 ounces of 80 proof alcohol.6 A 750 ML (25.36 ounce) bottle of 190 proof grain alcohol contains approximately 16.9 drinks.
- At $15 per bottle, this is less than a dollar a drink.
At Least 16 States Ban Sales of Extreme-Strength Alcohol
- Maryland’s neighbors ban sales of extreme-strength alcohol, with limited exceptions for industrial, commercial, culinary, or medical uses:
- Virginia: Banned above 101 proof or 50.5% ABV.7
- Pennsylvania: Banned at or above 190 proof or 95% ABV.8
- West Virginia: Banned at or above 190 proof or 95% ABV.9
- Other states’ bans go much farther than S.B. 75, including:
- California: Banned above 120 proof or 60% ABV.10
- Florida: Banned above 153 proof or 76.5% ABV (sales and consumption).11
- Minnesota: Banned above 160 proof or 80% ABV.12
Updated February 2015
REFERENCES
- Hingson RW, Zha W, Weitzman ER. Magnitude of and trends in alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. college students ages 18-24, 1998-2005. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, July (Suppl 16): 12-20, 2009. http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/statssummaries/snapshot.aspx. Accessed October 28, 2013.
- Maryland Collaborative to Reduce College Drinking and Related Problems. (2013). College Drinking in Maryland: A Status Report. Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD; and the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD. Available at www.marylandcollaborative.org/resources/docs/MDreport.pdf.
- http://www.gallup.com/poll/163787/drinkers-divide-beer-wine-favorite.aspx).
- White, A. M., Kraus, C. L., Flom, J. D., Kestenbaum, L. A., Mitchell, J. R., Shah, K. and Swartzwelder, H. S. (2005), College Students Lack Knowledge of Standard Drink Volumes: Implications for Definitions of Risky Drinking Based on Survey Data. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 29: 631–638. Accessed October 25, 2013.
- According to preliminary results from the first national survey to track youth alcohol consumption by brand. E-mail correspondence from Michael B. Siegel, Boston University School of Public Health, to David Jernigan, 13 January 2014.
- http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/ToolsResources/DrinkSizeCalculator.asp
- VA Administrative Code Title 3 Agency 5 Chapter 70 §200 2013 http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+reg+3VAC5-70-200
- Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Regulations Title 40 PA CODE §11.3 A (2013)
- Interview with West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Commission 2013
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 23403 (2013)
- Florida Code Title XXIV Alcohol Beverages and Tobacco Chapter 565.07 (2013)
- Minn. Stat. § 340A.506 (2013)