February 2013 - Deregulation of Alcohol in Michigan Threatens Health and Safety
This public health and safety counter-report (Putting Public Health First!) highlights the nature of the Liquor Control Advisory Rules Committee (LCARC) process and many of it's recommendations as well as the recently released Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR) report by demonstrating that many of the recommendations:
- Put public health and safety at risk
- Go against the best interests of Michigan's beer and wine small businesses (craft brewers and winemakers, independent retailers, family wholesalers, etc)
- Run contrary to the concerns of Michigan's citizens
- Exceed the parameters of the Executive Order that created the LCARC
MAP, along with many others, have looked at the available research documenting the most effective strategies for regulating alcohol. Please see the CDC Community Guide for more details.
The ORR recommends that the most threatening public health and safety deregulations are:
- Allow beer to be shipped directly to consumers.
- Decrease required gas station inventory from $250,000 to $50,000.
- Increase the number of resort liquor licenses.
- Permit wine sampling and sales at farmers markets. Effective August 31, 2013 this ORR recommendation has become law (Public Act 100).
- Remove fingerprinting and financial verification.
The Liquor Control Advisory Rules Committee (LCARC) - Through Executive Order 2011-5, Governor Snyder created the Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR) within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The ORR is, "Responsible for completing a systematic review of all existing and proposed rules and rule making processes" in order to create, "a regulatory environment and regulatory processes that are fair, efficient, and conducive to business growth and job creation." Click here to see the many organizations that are opposed to deregulating Michigan's alcohol laws.
Other Resources
Pam Erickson - "The Importance of Our Three Tier System"