2013 Alabama Legislative Session - Your Help is Needed
The only hope we have of stopping two very important "pro-alcohol" bills that will likely be introduced in the 2013 Alabama State Legislative Session is for church members to contact their House Members and State Senators and ask them to oppose these bills. The first bill is a bill that will privatize the sale of alcoholic beverages in Alabama and do away with the ABC Stores. The argument is that "Alabama needs to get out of the liquor business," but ALCAP's position is that Alabama is not in the liquor business, we are in the control business. Go to the "Links" page at
www.alcap.com to find reasons and resources for opposing privatization of liquor sales.
The second "pro-alcohol" bill that has already been pre-filed is a House bill (HB9), introduced by Rep. Mac McCutcheon (R-Capshaw). This bill, if passed, will legalize home-brewing of beer and mead (click here for a news report on this bill). A similar bill passed the House last year, but died in the Senate as time ran out on the legislative calendar. The home-brewers have been calling legislators in large numbers, pushing for passage of this bill, while the churches have remained relatively silent. If we have any hope of stopping this bill, pastors and church members must let their voices be heard by the legislators.
ALCAP opposes home-brewing on the basis that there will be no way to police the private production of alcoholic beverages in one's private residence. Alcohol is a mind-altering and addictive drug that destroys lives and families. There is no good reason to allow individuals to legally produce this dangerous drug in the privacy of their own homes.
Please take time to contact your House member and State Senator and ask him/her to oppose both the liquor privatization bill and the home-brew bill when each comes up for a vote. We need to flood the offices of State Legislators with our opinions on these issues. Be courteous and respectful, but let them know what you think. To find the name and contact information for your legislators, go to
www.alcap.com and follow the appropriate links.