Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits are being offered by several states for those attending the Center for Alcohol Policy’s Second Annual Alcohol Law Symposium to be held October 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.

The 31 states that have approved CLE accreditation for the Symposium are:

Alabama          Alaska          Arkansas          Colorado          Florida          Idaho          Illinois          Iowa          Kentucky          Louisiana          Maine          Mississippi          Missouri          Minnesota           Montana          Nevada          New Hampshire          New Mexico          North Dakota          Ohio          Oklahoma          Oregon          Pennsylvania          Rhode Island          Tennessee          Texas          Vermont          Washington          West Virginia          Wisconsin          Wyoming

These states offers between nine and 12 credits each.  Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, South Dakota and the District of Columbia do not have mandatory CLE requirements.

“This year’s Alcohol Law Symposium will offer expert insight and discussion about the importance of alcohol law, regulation and litigation to legal professionals, regulators, law enforcement and the public health community,” said Center Advisory Council member and former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro.  “With litigation and legislation challenging alcohol laws and regulations in many states across the country, this is an invaluable program for anyone interested in the 21st Amendment.”

The Symposium offers 10 educational sessions on topics such as the effect of globalization on alcohol laws in the United States; trade practice laws; the history of U.S. alcohol regulation; the intersection of alcohol supplier contracts and state alcohol laws; liquor liability laws; a 21st Amendment litigation update; and more.

Nebraska Attorney General and National Association of Attorneys General President Jon Bruning will deliver a keynote address on the role of the state attorney general in upholding state-based alcohol regulation under the 21st Amendment. Other speakers and panelists include prominent alcohol law attorneys, a professor of alcoholic beverage law, current and former alcohol regulators and public health advocates.

An up-to-date listing of CLE states, Symposium speakers, educational session topics, the full agenda and registration information is available at www.centerforalcoholpolicy.org.

For 222 years, the U.S. Constitution has defined our rights, freedoms and laws. On September 17, 1787, 39 men signed their names on this document at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The Center for Alcohol Policy (CAP) proudly remembers our founding fathers and honors their leadership, wisdom and foresight.

Today, alcohol is the only product that is the subject of two constitutional amendments – the 18th which established national Prohibition and the 21st which repealed Prohibition 13 years later and established today’s effective system of state-based alcohol regulation. As society addresses problems like alcohol abuse including underage drinking and drunk driving, the debate about maintaining effective alcohol regulation is critical.

It is in that spirit that the CAP is hosting its second annual national essay contest. The contest is intended to foster debate, analysis and examination of the effect of state alcohol regulation.

The theme of this year’s contest is: “State Regulation of Alcohol is Important Because…”

Essays can focus on any aspect of state alcohol regulation including legal analysis, law enforcement perspective, tax collection, public health and other relevant topics.  The top three winning entries will receive prizes of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000 respectively.

The deadline for submission is November 18, 2009, and winners will be announced in early December. For entry rules, essay guidelines and last year’s winning essays, please visit www.centerforalcoholpolicy.org.

“For more than 75 years, alcohol has been effectively regulated in the U.S. by a state regulatory system guaranteed by the 21st Amendment,” said CAP Advisory Council member and Cumberland School of Law Professor Brannon Denning. “This year’s essay contest is intended to highlight and explore how state regulation of alcohol under the 21st Amendment has worked.”

“As the nation debates causes of problems in areas ranging from financial services to food safety, this essay contest offers a unique opportunity to address the impact of state alcohol regulation on society and its role in protecting Americans,” Denning continued.

The Center for Alcohol Policy, funded by America’s beer distributors, seeks to raise public awareness on these unique qualities and regulations of alcohol.