Deregulation of Alcohol in Michigan Threatens Health and Safety
This public health and safety counter-report, “Putting Public Health First!” highlights the flawed nature of the LCARC process and many of its recommendations as well as the recently released ORR report by demonstrating that many of the recommendations :
1. Put public health and safety at risk;
2. Go against the best interests of Michigan small businesses in the beer and wine sectors – from craft brewers and winemakers to independent retailers to family owned wholesalers;
3. Run contrary to the concerns of Michigan’s citizens; and
4. Exceed the parameters of the Executive Order that created the LCARC.
Taken together, many of the LCARC and ORR recommendations undermine Michigan’s effective, pro-growth and responsible system of alcohol laws, regulations and safeguards, and have the potential of putting Michigan citizens’ health and well-being at risk.
MAP along with many others have looked at the available research documenting the most effective strategies for regulating alcohol. See CDC Community Guide summary.
The ORR recommendations that most threaten public health and safety are:
1. Allow beer to be shipped directly to consumers.
2. Decrease required gas station inventory from $250,000 to $50,000.
3. Increase the number of resort liquor licenses.
4. Permit wine sampling and sales at farmers markets. This ORR recommendation has already been introduced as SB79. Click here to see the bill.
5. Remove fingerprinting and financial verification.