Bill aims to prevent drunk driving
The bill would prohibit grocery and convenience stores from selling beer refrigerated below 60 degrees on the premises.
Published Jan. 17, 2006
After receiving essays from a classroom of fifth-graders in his district about what they think would make good laws, Sen. Bill Alter, R-High Ridge, submitted a bill he hopes would prevent drunk driving.
Senate Bill 763 "prohibits any grocery store or convenience store from selling individually packaged beer or beer that is refrigerated below 60 degrees on the premises."
Alter said his main goal is to raise awareness of drinking and driving by showing that having cold beer available makes it easier and more likely to be consumed while driving. Alter's Chief of Staff Gary Romine said Alter was formerly a police officer, and his exposure to drunk-driving incidents makes him feel strongly about this bill.
Romine said this was the first time Alter has taken suggestions from students.
"The project started off as a civic lesson," Romine said. "He thought the project would be a good way to be involved in the community and help students learn about the civic and legislative process."
Ronald Leone, executive director of Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, said though the association supports efforts to reduce drunk driving, there is no evidence SB763 actually would prevent it. He said MPCA does not support the bill.
"The temperature of the beer will not keep reckless people from drinking and driving," Leone said. "What the bill will accomplish is to inconvenience law-abiding citizens who want to purchase chilled beer for their house parties, barbeques and picnics."
William Grieshaber, owner of Mike's Quick Mart, said if the bill became law, it would be an economic strain on his store because he would have to create a whole new layout.
"I have a lot of walk-in cooler space, and half of it is allotted to cold beer," Grieshaber said. "I will have to move that out on a shelf in the store, and then I'll have a lot of additional cooler space that I wouldn't be able to utilize."
Grieshaber said he does not believe the bill would prevent drunk driving because if someone wants to drive drunk, he said, they are going to do it whether the beer is cold when they buy it.
"I think more people are drinking and driving coming out of restaurants and bars instead of convenience stores," Grieshaber said. "I have some 24-ounce singles that people could be grabbing and drinking in their cars, but most people do not drink the beer they get in transit."
MPCA also is concerned with beer being perishable. It must be properly and carefully refrigerated to maintain its freshness, Leone said.
"In general, MPCA does not support 'Big Brother' government into personal freedoms and the free market system," Leone said. "The government should treat adults as adults until there is a reason to treat them otherwise."