ATLANTA —
The laws governing the sale of alcohol in Georgia never define what constitutes beer, describe a “standard case” in milliliters but establish limits in ounces, and empowers the revenue commissioner to control the lettering on store signs, bottles and cans although none have exercised that authority in decades.
These are some of the 122 outdated provisions, inconsistencies and omissions in the alcohol laws. Some were ruled unconstitutional years ago by courts.
A committee of the House of Representatives picked to sort out the glitches and modernize the law, which covers companies that make, bottle or sell beer, wine or distilled spirits.
Rep. Howard Maxwell, R-Dallas, is chairing the study committee. Wednesday, he invited representatives of the trade associations of retailers, brewers, wineries and wholesalers to suggest other needed revisions that will clarify the law without making substantive policy changes.
But he said too many edits could bog down the entire process.
“I think we’re going to have to bite if off one piece at a time and not try to take a massive undertaking,” he said.
In one part of the law, it has a definition of “malt beverages,” which are commonly called beer, but the definition doesn’t include the word “beer.” Yet, later in the law, it details how the state issues licenses to stores that want to sell beer.
“We understand that we’re talking about the same item, but that’s an issue that ought to be clarified but doesn’t rise to the level of a substantive change,” said Rep. Brett Harrell, R-Snellville.
One inconsistency is wording that says local governments may add a tax on the sale of wine and distilled spirits like whiskey, but in another passage it requires that they tax beer.
The law requires that any whiskey, brandy, rum, vodka, applejack or other distilled spirits produced in Georgia be made only with Georgia-grown grains, fruits, sugarcane or other produce.
“I believe the mandate may be unnecessarily intrusive,” Harrell said, adding that he favors support of local farmers.
Georgia companies may be at a disadvantage in the booming craft-beverage industry with innovative, exotic flavors and combinations from across the globe.