Dedicated to Improving the Standards & Practices of Liquor Law Enforcement |
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November 10, 2021 Vol. 41 |
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If you have Alcohol Law Enforcement news to share please send it to Carrie Christofes, Executive Director
carrie.christofes@nllea.org
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Today is the Last Day to Register!
The 2021 Annual Conference, will be held November 15-17 in Montgomery, Alabama at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center,
in collaboration with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation.
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Fresno State weighs alcohol-sales rule changes at football games after Saturday night fights
Fresno State will consider amending policies on alcohol sales at football games after a wild Saturday night that included three alcohol-fueled fights and five arrests. Under consideration in the aftermath of the scenes in the stands during the Bulldogs’ 40-14 loss to Boise State, the first sellout at Bulldog Stadium since 2014: Limiting the number of locations alcohol is sold and halting sales earlier than the current cutoff at the end of the third quarter. “This was a very unfortunate incident and one we are taking very seriously,” athletics director Terry Tumey and vice president for administration and chief financial officer Debbie Adishian-Astone said in a joint statement. “We regret that this situation occurred as it impacts the game experience and family-friendly atmosphere for our loyal Red Wave fans. Fortunately, our Fresno State police officers responded immediately along with support from other local law enforcement agencies.
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Aggressive customers prompt changes at Idaho liquor stores
Officials have changed the way state-owned liquor stores sell rare bottles of alcohol after instances of hoarding, illegal reselling and bad behavior by customers.
The Idaho State Liquor Division late last month announced the new rules involving rare but highly sought after bourbons, whiskeys and other small-batch liquor offerings.That combination has resulted in what the agency calls "unsavory behavior" by some customers that includes harassment of store workers.
"In an effort to thwart bad behavior, reduce hoarding, and add excitement to the shopping experience, we have decided to experiment with a 'Treasure Hunt' approach in how we allocate and merchandise rare products in our retail stores," the Idaho State Liquor Division wrote in the announcement.
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MADD Hails Monumental Drunk Driving Prevention Provision in Infrastructure Bill Passed by U.S. House of Representatives
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed today by the U.S. House of Representatives includes the single most important legislation in Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s 41-year history, marking the beginning of the end of drunk driving. The “Advanced Impaired Driving Technology” section of the Infrastructure bill mandates an advanced vehicle technology standard that is expected to prevent more than 9,400 drunk driving deaths annually, according to a 2020 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
“Today’s vote is monumental because it will virtually eliminate the No. 1 killer on America’s roads,” said MADD National President Alex Otte. “On behalf of the 1 million victims of drunk driving that MADD has served, I want to thank our legislative heroes in the House and Senate who fiercely fought for us and said these tragedies must stop.”
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Reserve Bar to buy Minibar Delivery
The move to purchase Minibar will allow the US firm to deliver spirits, wine, beer and ready-to-drink cocktails through the marketplace’s 2,800 retail partners. Reserve Bar said the acquisition accelerates the expansion of its retailer fulfilment network and planned introduction of on-demand delivery capabilities. Through the merger, New York City-headquartered Minibar will be able to offer a wider range of products, including limited edition bottlings, as well as exclusive gift offerings and personalised products. Furthermore, suppliers will have access to both companies’ full range of marketing tactics, data and business intelligence, and technology solutions. Together, the companies will expand their retail footprint to more than 5,000 locations by the end of 2021. “This acquisition is born out of synergies generated by the complementary e-commerce segments we serve,” said Lindsay Held, Reserve Bar CEO and co-founder. “Reserve Bar primarily focuses on premium and luxury spirits, utilising ground shipping fulfilment, while Minibar Delivery has focused on meeting the customer’s everyday needs for wine, spirits, beer, and ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs), with on-demand delivery. Together, we can provide our clients with the best purchasing experience in the market.
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New marijuana decriminalization effort weighed in U.S. House -report
Legislation that would decriminalize marijuana and establish a tax on cannabis sales was being developed by Republican Representative Nancy Mace with the goal of introducing it in the U.S. House of Representatives later this month, according to media reports. On Friday, Marijuana Moment reported that a draft of the “States Reform Act” legislation was being circulated, with a final version being readied within weeks.
Cannabis stocks advanced on Monday after reports of legislation being drafted. Mace is a first-term House member. According to Marijuana Moment, her bill would put the interstate regulation of marijuana under the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which is an agency within the Treasury Department. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also would have a limited role in regulating products, according to the report.
Recreational cannabis use would be limited to those 21 and older and much like federal controls on alcohol, there would be advertising restrictions on marijuana.
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.Booze to Go, Yes or No? Industry Warns of Tax Ramifications
Instituted to help struggling bars and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, the notion of home delivery of spirits is a concern to the traditional three-tiered—producer, wholesaler, retailer—structure of the alcohol industry. States that embraced cocktails-to-go as an economic lifeline during the pandemic need to consider the ramifications of making the model permanent, a trio of beverage industry executives told an opening day session of NCSL’s Legislative Summit on Wednesday. “We are very supportive of a number of temporary measures to help bars and restaurants stay open, but we wonder why the push (to make cocktails-to-go permanent),” said Matt Dogali, president and CEO of the American Distilled Spirits Alliance, which represents 27 leading domestic and international companies.
Impacts on state alcohol tax revenue are a prime concern, he said.
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Michigan poised to ban most state workers' use of encrypted messaging
The Michigan State Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday to block state workers from using messaging apps that feature end-to-end encryption on their government-issued phones, following concerns that such apps could be used to evade open-records laws. The one-page bill directs the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget to “issue directives that all state departments and all state agencies must not use any app, software, or other technology that prevents it from maintaining or preserving a public record as required by law on an electronic device that is used to create a public record.” If enacted, the bill would effectively ban the use of apps like Signal, Telegram or the Facebook-owned WhatsApp by nearly all state workers. Lawmakers first introduced the measure last spring following reporting by the Detroit Free Press that revealed that high-ranking Michigan State Police officials were using Signal to communicate. Messages sent on encrypted apps avoid government servers and and can be set to expire after a brief period of time. The revelation that top law-enforcement officers were texting each other on Signal raised concerns that the app could be used to evade the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. (Conversely, many law-enforcement agencies and prosecutors have attempted to subpoena Signal for its users’ identities and messages, despite the fact that the app’s nonprofit publisher says it does not have access to its users’ activities.)
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MA-Swampscott Parents Charged After Party With Alcohol, Hundreds of Teens
A couple from Swampscott, Massachusetts, is in trouble with the law after police say a party with alcohol and as many as 400 teenagers got out of hand at their home over the weekend. David and Wesleini Potter are charged with furnishing alcohol to minors and disturbing the peace. Police say the couple told them they didn't know underaged party-goers had been drinking. "It would be just unfathomable for the homeowners not to realize that was being consumed on their property," said Swampscott Police Sgt. Jay Locke.
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New U.S. Post Office Rule Bans Delivery of Vapor & CBD Products
The United States Post Office (USPS) is no longer delivering vapor and CBD products through the mail.
The USPS published the new rule in the Federal Register on Oct. 21, and the ban went into effect immediately, according to Vapor360.com. The rule comes nearly one year after Congress passed the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act that applies the same safeguards already in place for traditional cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products, and was included as part of the omnibus federal spending bill for fiscal year 2021
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Job Opportunities:
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) is accepting applications for permanent LCB Enforcement Officer 2's (LEO2). The Enforcement and Education Division is headquartered in Olympia and has four regional offices in Tacoma, Federal Way, Mount Vernon, and Spokane. These positions begin as entry level LCB Enforcement Officer 1 and must successfully complete the 720 hour Basic Law Enforcement training and the Field Training Officer program. Upon completion of the programs, LEO1's will be promoted to the LCB Enforcement Officer 2 (LEO2) level. The Enforcement Division works with approximately 13,000 liquor and cannabis licensees and their employees by providing education and counseling on liquor & cannabis licensing laws and regulations. LCB Enforcement Officers inspect premises, investigate complaints, and conduct compliance checks. At times they may take administrative and criminal action against licensees, employees, and the public who violate state liquor, tobacco and cannabis laws. The WSLCB Enforcement and Education division is committed to integrity, honesty, dedication, a commitment to serve, and public trust. Officers are responsible for enforcing state liquor, cannabis, tobacco and vapor product laws and regulation to promote public safety, while providing education to licensees, communities, and local law enforcement agencies. WSLCB Law Enforcement Officers carry out their duties with the highest standards of personal and professional ethics. To learn more about the Enforcement and Education division, click here or follow us on our WSLCB YouTube Channel.
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2020-21 NLLEA Board Members:
John Yeomans, President - DE - john.yeomans@delaware.gov
Todd Merlina, Vice President - PA - tmerlina@pa.gov
Thomas Kirby, Secretary/Treasurer - VA - thomas.kirby@virginiaabc.com
Israel Morrow, Sergeant at Arms - NC - israel.morrow@ncdps.gov
Greg Croft, Immediate Past President - OH - gacroft@dps.ohio.gov
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