Missouri: Center for Alcohol Policy Applauds State of Missouri for Recognizing Importance of Effective State Alcohol Regulation and Enforcement

Source: CAP

July 15, 2015

This week, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed legislation into law creating the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control Fund. The fund will support enforcement of liquor and tobacco laws and will be supported by fees from liquor licenses and permits. Specifically, 70 percent of the fees collected for liquor licenses and permits are directed to the fund, which may be used only by the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control for the administration and enforcement of the liquor control laws and other laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors.

Jerry Oliver, Center for Alcohol Policy advisor and former director of the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control, issued the following statement on behalf of the Center:

The alcohol industry is a regulated industry. In order for the regulatory foundation to work effectively today, state alcohol regulators need the appropriate level of resources to enforce state alcohol laws. That comes with ensuring that state regulatory agencies are funded at appropriate levels.

In professional sports, the need for quality, competent officiating is frequently on public display. Fair officiating benefits the competitors on the field, the viewing public and the integrity of the sport. The same is true in the alcohol industry. Only with active regulators can competition in the industry flourish and the public benefit. The Center applauds the leadership of Missouri by recognizing the need for a funded regulatory agency. 

The Center for Alcohol Policy funded a study by former Michigan Liquor Control Commissioner and former Michigan House of Representatives Floor Leader Pat Gagliardi entitled, “The Need for State Alcohol Regulatory Funding: Fighting Deregulation by Defunding.” 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.