Research and Studies
National Survey Finds Broad Support for Today’s Alcohol Regulations
To learn more about American attitudes toward alcohol and its regulation, the Center for Alcohol Policy (CAP) commissioned a poll conducted by a bipartisan team of pollsters Whitman Insight Strategies and Wilson Research Strategies. The national telephone survey of 1,010 adults was conducted from July 22-24, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3.1%.
The survey results showed:
Americans do not think alcohol is just like other consumer products, and they support state restrictions on alcohol that are not found on other consumer goods.
- 72% believe states should regulate alcohol because it is different from other consumer goods.
- 79% believe that alcohol is NOT just like toilet paper and tin foil.
- 78% support the current drinking age of 21 or older.
Americans believe that local businesses that understand the local community should manage local alcohol distribution and sales.
- 81% support the rights of states to determine their own laws and regulations regarding the sale of alcohol.
- 76% support the rights of individual states to regulate the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcohol.
- 74% believe that local businesses should be in charge of alcohol distribution in the local community because they understand local preferences.
Americans do not want to replicate the United Kingdom’s disastrous experience with alcohol deregulation.
- 72% agree that the U.S. should not follow the UK and remove alcohol regulation.
Report: The Need for State Alcohol Regulatory Funding
Former Michigan Liquor Control Commissioner and former Michigan House of Representatives Floor Leader Pat Gagliardi has authored a report, “The Need for State Alcohol Regulatory Funding: Fighting Deregulation by Defunding,” made possible by a grant from the Center for Alcohol Policy.
The report analyzes the number of alcohol enforcement agents in states across the country, their increasing workload and the scope of their duties, as well as the record number of licenses for enforcement agents to monitor. It also outlines several suggestions for ways states can seek to increase funding for their alcohol beverage control operations.
Webinar and Report: The Dangers of Alcohol Deregulation: The United Kingdom Experience
Former Oregon alcohol regulator Pam Erickson was recently featured in a Center for Alcohol Policy Webinar to discuss the effects of alcohol deregulation in the United Kingdom. To access her presentation please click HERE. To read a report on this topic, The Dangers of Alcohol Deregulation: The United Kingdom Experience, click here.
