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S.O.S. Applauds Veto of “Whiskey and Wheaties” bill
For Immediate Release
St. Petersburg, FL – Wednesday, May 24, 2017 – Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S) applauded the decision of Florida Governor Rick Scott to veto SB 106. The so-called “Whiskey and Wheaties” bill would have allowed Walmart and other big box stores to sell liquor alongside cereal, diapers, and back to school goods, reducing the perception of harm.
“Florida currently has a pretty good system for regulating the manufacturing, distribution and sales of alcohol and we actively supported preserving and strengthening the system,” according to Calvina Fay, Executive Director of S.O.S. “S.O.S generated over 26,000 messages to legislators opposing the bill and more than 300 messages to the Governor asking for a veto,” she added.
If passed, SB 106 would have allowed hard liquor sales in grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores. “More troubling, the bill would have allowed minors working in retail stores to sell hard liquor, under the supervision of someone 18 years of age or older,” Fay said. “In other words, the bill allowed a high-school sophomore to sell hard liquor if a high-school senior supervises them,” she continued.
Other concerns included the fact that liquor purchased and supplied for retail sale by big-box stores with their enormous buying power would reduce the price and blending liquor with everyday purchases, would have increased youth exposure and vastly expanded access. “For S.O.S, this issue was always about keeping our young people safe and minimizing their exposure to the dangers of alcohol,” Fay concluded.
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