Comments on: Protest the California Bill to Outlaw Coffee Stout, AB 1598 http://beer47.com/2010/03/protest-the-california-bill-to-outlaw-coffee-stout-ab-1598/ A blog about beer, homebrewing, beer events, cooking with beer, beer reviews and brewery tours. Thu, 17 May 2012 12:30:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David Jensen http://beer47.com/2010/03/protest-the-california-bill-to-outlaw-coffee-stout-ab-1598/comment-page-1/#comment-891 David Jensen Thu, 30 Sep 2010 04:03:56 +0000 http://beer47.com/?p=1051#comment-891 Even though those drinks do no good, it is a very slippery slope. The main problem here is that there is no need for a California law when the FDA is already regulating these drinks. I think the bests option is to limit the marketing of these drink and put in guidelines for the labeling. The TTB has control of what labels are allowed and which are not. That can be very powerful for limiting the market appeal of these drinks to underage or legal-aged young drinkers. Even though those drinks do no good, it is a very slippery slope. The main problem here is that there is no need for a California law when the FDA is already regulating these drinks.

I think the bests option is to limit the marketing of these drink and put in guidelines for the labeling. The TTB has control of what labels are allowed and which are not. That can be very powerful for limiting the market appeal of these drinks to underage or legal-aged young drinkers.

]]> By: Steve Y. http://beer47.com/2010/03/protest-the-california-bill-to-outlaw-coffee-stout-ab-1598/comment-page-1/#comment-890 Steve Y. Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:35:40 +0000 http://beer47.com/?p=1051#comment-890 As a beer drinker, I can appreciate the concern of those who doubt the ability of the government to apply an over-broad law regarding these drinks. That said, as a parent of an 18 yr. old new driver, I am appalled that there are products out there that are the equivalent of 5 beers, 1 Red Bull, and a Starbucks coffee IN ONE DRINK. C'mon people, a little common sense here? There is absolutely no value in such a drink, especially one targeted at young people. How many of us are not impaired at all after FIVE beers? (Only the liars among us). And is it reasonable to expect that anyone would pay for such a drink and drink only a PORTION of it, then throw the rest away? There is a reasonable limit somewhere, but drinks such as Four Loko are clearly WAY over whatever that line is. As a beer drinker, I can appreciate the concern of those who doubt the ability of the government to apply an over-broad law regarding these drinks. That said, as a parent of an 18 yr. old new driver, I am appalled that there are products out there that are the equivalent of 5 beers, 1 Red Bull, and a Starbucks coffee IN ONE DRINK. C’mon people, a little common sense here? There is absolutely no value in such a drink, especially one targeted at young people. How many of us are not impaired at all after FIVE beers? (Only the liars among us). And is it reasonable to expect that anyone would pay for such a drink and drink only a PORTION of it, then throw the rest away? There is a reasonable limit somewhere, but drinks such as Four Loko are clearly WAY over whatever that line is.

]]> By: Savory Tv http://beer47.com/2010/03/protest-the-california-bill-to-outlaw-coffee-stout-ab-1598/comment-page-1/#comment-762 Savory Tv Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:00:36 +0000 http://beer47.com/?p=1051#comment-762 California laws are ridiculously extreme at times. If they outlaw coffee stout, they should also outlaw all caffeinated cocktails being sold at bars, ie vodka + redbull etc. Unbelievable. California laws are ridiculously extreme at times. If they outlaw coffee stout, they should also outlaw all caffeinated cocktails being sold at bars, ie vodka + redbull etc. Unbelievable.

]]> By: Timbo http://beer47.com/2010/03/protest-the-california-bill-to-outlaw-coffee-stout-ab-1598/comment-page-1/#comment-754 Timbo Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:14:57 +0000 http://beer47.com/?p=1051#comment-754 David, Thanks for following up. Do we have to visit the State Capitol to get some response from these folks that makes sense or at least clarifies their positions on this bill? I'm sharing this blog post to Facebook. David,

Thanks for following up. Do we have to visit the State Capitol to get some response from these folks that makes sense or at least clarifies their positions on this bill?

I’m sharing this blog post to Facebook.

]]> By: David Jensen http://beer47.com/2010/03/protest-the-california-bill-to-outlaw-coffee-stout-ab-1598/comment-page-1/#comment-753 David Jensen Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:17:34 +0000 http://beer47.com/?p=1051#comment-753 Cris, If you read the blog post carefully, the response was to a different person. I personally, have sent an email to both Assemblymember Beall as well as Assemblymember Coto and have not received response from either. I will update this post to make this more explicit. The points that I made in my messages to Beall and Coto were different than what the other reader sent to your office. The other read simply asked you, "Does this bill target beers such as a Coffee Stouts? Or is the intent alcholic energy drinks. Please clarify." I, however, expressed 3 points as to why this bill should be withdrawn completely. I don't care that the bill does not intend to target coffee stouts, currently as written it is at best ambiguous. Furthermore, if there are FDA and and federal regulations that already regulate caffeine in alcohol products, why is there a need for AB 1598? There is none. It is a slippery slope down which we should not slide. David Jensen Beer47 http://beer47.com Cris,

If you read the blog post carefully, the response was to a different person. I personally, have sent an email to both Assemblymember Beall as well as Assemblymember Coto and have not received response from either. I will update this post to make this more explicit.

The points that I made in my messages to Beall and Coto were different than what the other reader sent to your office. The other read simply asked you, “Does this bill target beers such as a Coffee Stouts? Or is the intent alcholic energy drinks. Please clarify.” I, however, expressed 3 points as to why this bill should be withdrawn completely.

I don’t care that the bill does not intend to target coffee stouts, currently as written it is at best ambiguous. Furthermore, if there are FDA and and federal regulations that already regulate caffeine in alcohol products, why is there a need for AB 1598? There is none. It is a slippery slope down which we should not slide.

David Jensen
Beer47
http://beer47.com

]]> By: Cris Forsyth http://beer47.com/2010/03/protest-the-california-bill-to-outlaw-coffee-stout-ab-1598/comment-page-1/#comment-752 Cris Forsyth Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:05:08 +0000 http://beer47.com/?p=1051#comment-752 Hi Mr. Jensen. Since you have already posted a response from the Assembly Member regarding this issue it is unclear why you claim you have not heard from him. You know it is not the Assembly Member's intention to make craft brewers who use coffee as a flavoring subject to the provisions of his legislaltion. You also know the Assembly Member is currently working with representatives from the California Small Brewers Associaiton on language to make it clearer that craft brews using coffee as flavorings are not subject to the provisions of this legislation. Please correct this inaccuracy in your blog. Cris Forsyth Chief of Staff Assembly Member Jim Beall Hi Mr. Jensen.

Since you have already posted a response from the Assembly Member regarding this issue it is unclear why you claim you have not heard from him.

You know it is not the Assembly Member’s intention to make craft brewers who use coffee as a flavoring subject to the provisions of his legislaltion.

You also know the Assembly Member is currently working with representatives from the California Small Brewers Associaiton on language to make it clearer that craft brews using coffee as flavorings are not subject to the provisions of this legislation.

Please correct this inaccuracy in your blog.

Cris Forsyth
Chief of Staff
Assembly Member Jim Beall

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