CHICAGO, IL – The Center for Alcohol Policy (CAP) Eighth Annual Alcohol Law and Policy Conference kicked off day two at the Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois, with keynote remarks by South Dakota Attorney General and National Association of Attorneys General President Marty Jackley.

This annual event brings together a wide range of alcohol policy experts – including attorneys, current and former alcohol regulators, legislators, law enforcement, public health advocates and other experts – to discuss and debate current alcohol laws and challenges.

Attorney General Jackley detailed the role of state attorneys general in alcohol policy debates and the importance of policies that safeguard against the abuse of alcohol.

Since taking office in 2009, Attorney General Jackley has been committed to fighting crime, strengthening public safety and making South Dakota a safer place to live. Now serving his second term, Attorney General Jackley continues to implement programs aimed at protecting the citizens of South Dakota. To that end, he has worked to expand South Dakota’s 24/7 Alcohol Sobriety and Monitoring Program across the state and nation, which has proven successful in reducing the likelihood for alcohol re-offenses.

Center for Alcohol Policy Advisor and Former Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Board James Hall led a discussion on how to measure the efficacy of U.S. alcohol control policies, which included insights from Dr. William Kerr of the Public Health Institute and Toben Nelson, associate professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota.

The conference concluded with a panel of state legislators discussing alcohol legislation, economic development and public health. Center for Alcohol Policy Executive Director Mike Lashbrook moderated the discussion with Illinois House of Representatives Majority Leader Louis Lang, Pennsylvania State Senator Chuck McIlhinney and Michigan State Senate Regulatory Reform Committee Chairman Tory Rocca, who shared the lessons they’ve learned from debating legislation that appropriately balances economic growth with public health concerns.

The legislators discussed efforts to weigh competing state interests related to law enforcement, public health, orderly markets, taxation and jobs.

Visit www.centerforalcoholpolicy.org for a summary from day one of the conference and the full conference agenda. Read live updates from the event on Twitter using the hashtag #CAPLaw.

Photo Download: Keynote Speaker Marty Jackley

###

 The Center for Alcohol Policy is a 501 c (3) organization whose mission is to educate policy makers, regulators and the public about alcohol, its uniqueness and regulation.  By conducting sound and scientific-based research and implementing initiatives that will maintain the appropriate state-based regulation of alcohol, the Center promotes safe and responsible consumption, fights underage drinking and drunk driving and informs key entities about the effects of alcohol consumption.  For more information, visit www.centerforalcoholpolicy.org or follow the Center on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AlcoholPolicy.

Montana Liquor Education Unit Recognized for Efforts to Enforce State Alcohol Laws and Promote Public Safety

CHICAGO, IL – The Center for Alcohol Policy (CAP) is pleased to announce that the Montana Department of Revenue’s Liquor Education Unit is the recipient of the Third Annual Leadership in Alcohol Regulation Award.

The award, which recognizes a specific program, agency or person who oversees the alcohol industry and promotes public safety, was presented yesterday evening by the CAP Advisory Council at the Eighth Annual Alcohol Law and Policy Conference, which took place September 9-11 at the Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois.

Accepting the award were Montana Liquor Education Unit employees Kacey Collins and Lisa Scates.

“The Center for Alcohol Policy understands that alcohol regulators are the front lines of many great initiatives in the states aimed at keeping the alcohol industry properly regulated, promoting public health and safety and supporting a healthy business marketplace,” said Jerry Oliver, a CAP Advisory Council member and former Arizona alcohol regulator. “This award highlights effective best practices that may serve as examples to alcohol regulators in other states.”

“One of the most impressive facets of the Montana Liquor Education Unit is its tireless dedication to improving the state standard for liquor education and server training while involving all community stakeholders in its initiatives,” continued Oliver. “Since the unit was created by the Montana Department of Revenue in 2008, it has developed a broad network of community partners, brought in more than 240 active volunteer trainers and expanded and updated the state training program, ‘Let’s Control It: Alcohol Responsibility Matters.’”

The unit has worked with a variety of partners to help launch initiatives such as the Montana Community Change Project, DUI task forces across the state, the Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan Alcohol Strategy Implementation team and the Interagency Coordinating Council on State Prevention Programs. Earlier this year, the unit hosted the 2015 Alcohol Education Summit, which brought nearly 200 alcohol stakeholders to the state capital for two days of education, dialogue and sharing of best practices.

###

Photo Download: Award Recipients

(L) Kacey Collins, Liquor Education Professional

(R) Lisa Scates, Alcohol Education Coordinator

Photo Download: Award Recipients and Center for Alcohol Policy Leaders

(L to R): Center for Alcohol Policy Executive Director Mike Lashbrook, Center Advisor Brannon Denning, Montana Department of Revenue Liquor Education Unit Liquor Education Professional Kacey Collins, Center Advisor Patrick Lynch, Montana Department of Revenue Liquor Education Unit Alcohol Education Coordinator Lisa Scates

Read biographical details for Center for Alcohol Policy Advisory Council members here.

The Center for Alcohol Policy is a 501 c (3) organization whose mission is to educate policy makers, regulators and the public about alcohol, its uniqueness and regulation.  By conducting sound and scientific-based research and implementing initiatives that will maintain the appropriate state-based regulation of alcohol, the Center promotes safe and responsible consumption, fights underage drinking and drunk driving and informs key entities about the effects of alcohol consumption.  For more information, visit www.centerforalcoholpolicy.org or follow the Center on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AlcoholPolicy.

CHICAGO, IL – The Center for Alcohol Policy (CAP) Eighth Annual Alcohol Law and Policy Conference began today at the Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois, with a welcome by CAP Advisory Council member and former National Traffic Safety Board Chairman James Hall. He noted that the conference is a key opportunity for a diverse group of state and federal alcohol regulators, law enforcement, legislators, public health advocates, members of the alcohol beverage industry and others interested in alcohol policy issues to come together to learn and share ideas.

CAP Advisor and Samford University Cumberland School of Law Professor Brannon Denning moderated a panel examining the 21^st Amendment a decade after the Granholm v. Heald decision in 2005, when the U.S. Supreme Court held that states many not directly favor in-state alcohol producers while denying the same benefit to out-of-state producers as this violates the dormant Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Max Hess, attorney at Taylor, Feil, Harper, Lumsden & Hess, P.C.; Neal Insley, general counsel for the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association; and Michael Madigan, managing partner at Madigan, Dahl & Harlan, P.A.; reviewed the numerous court cases that have clarified the law since Granholm v. Heald and upheld states’ right to regulate alcohol under the 21^st Amendment.

Attorney Michael Madigan said, “The 10 years since the Granholm decision have brought further support for the ‘three-tier system is unquestionably legitimate’ reasoning of the Supreme Court.”

A panel moderated by Pamela Erickson, the CEO of Public Action Management and former executive director of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, focused on lessons learned by local governments with regard to granting new liquor licenses, informing local stakeholders and the impact on law enforcement. Karen Duddlesten, deputy director of the Las Vegas Department of Planning; Kathie Durbin, division chief for licensure, regulation & education for the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control in Maryland; and Julia Sherman, coordinator of the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project at the University of Wisconsin Law School; shared examples from their states.

Jerry Oliver, CAP Advisory Council member and former Arizona alcohol regulator and chief of police for Detroit, Richmond and Pasadena, moderated a panel on new threats to public health. Sgt. Jermaine Galloway of the Boise Police Department, Bruce Lee Livingston of Alcohol Justice and Dr. Brad Uren of the University of Michigan explored what legislators, regulators, law enforcement and the community can do to keep kids safe in today’s environment.

A panel moderated by Paul Pisano, senior vice president of industry affairs and general counsel for the National Beer Wholesalers Association, examined the history, successes and weaknesses of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, which was passed 80 years ago by Congress to govern the federal regulation of the new alcohol industry following Prohibition’s repeal. The panel included Anthony Gledhill, chief counsel for the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB); Vicky McDowell, the president & CEO of the Presidents’ Forum of the Distilled Spirits Industry; and Robert Tobiassen, former general counsel for the TTB. Tobiassen noted that the law is 80 years old but has much regulatory flexibility.

J.T. Griffin, chief government affairs officer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), provided an update on drunk and drugged driving, including current incidence rates and the future of technology to prevent cars from being operated by drunk drivers.

A panel of both veteran and new state alcohol regulators shared what they have learned from their position and what others involved in the alcohol industry should consider as they embark on their duties to regulate the alcohol industry. Panelists included Ivan Fernandez of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission; Thomas Philpot of the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation Division of Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco; and Jessica Starns of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. Roger Johnson, former assistant chief for the Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement Division of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, also shared insights from his new guide, “Alcohol Beverage Control: The Basics for New State Alcohol Regulators.”

The final session of the day featured Scott Kotchko, executive vice president of Whitman Insight Strategies, who explained the results of a recent bipartisan survey on national attitudes about alcohol. The survey findings indicate that Americans agree that regulation is important, especially when it comes to alcohol; Americans do not think alcohol is just like other consumer products and support regulations on alcohol that are not found on other consumer goods; Americans are very happy with the variety of alcohol options currently available to them; and Americans believe that local businesses that understand the local community should manage alcohol distribution and sales.

The CAP’s Eighth Annual Alcohol Law and Policy Conference continues Friday, September 11, at the Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. The conference agenda can be found at www.centerforalcoholpolicy.org.

For live updates from the event, follow @AlcoholPolicy on Twitter using the hashtag #CAPLaw.

###

The Center for Alcohol Policy is a 501c(3) organization whose mission is to educate policy makers, regulators and the public about alcohol, its uniqueness and regulation. By conducting sound and scientific-based research and implementing initiatives that will maintain the appropriate state-based regulation of alcohol, the Center promotes safe and responsible consumption, fights underage drinking and drunk driving and informs key entities about the effects of alcohol consumption. For more information, visit www.centerforalcoholpolicy.org or follow the Center on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AlcoholPolicy.