| For Immediate Release: Dec. 11, 2015 |
Contact: Matt Michelson |
JEFFERSON CITY — Yesterday, Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, pre-filed legislation prohibiting any person or business entity with a liquor license – and their employees and agents – from selling, offering or serving any form of powdered alcohol. Senate Bill 797 would make possession of powdered alcohol a class C misdemeanor. Representative Patricia Pike is filing identical legislation in the House, and is working closely with Sen. Pearce to advance these important bills.
In March of 2015, the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approved labels for a product that comes in small packets and can be added to water to make alcoholic beverages. The approval paved the way for the product to be sold legally in the United States, unless otherwise prohibited.
“Powdered alcohol packets present a host of concerns, not the least of which is how much easier they would make it for minors to come into the possession of alcohol and the dangers that poses,” said Sen. Pearce. “Recent federal label approval creates a real urgency around enacting legislation that will make the sale or service of powdered alcohol packets illegal in the state of Missouri. I’ve always believed that we need to be very proactive in helping keep our young people safe, and this legislation will go a long way toward achieving that end.”
The pre-filed legislation is substantially similar to House Bill 1329 (2015), which passed the House but was not taken up by the Senate.
In order to stay current on any topics on which Sen. Pearce will pre-file measures, visit his Senate web site at www.senate.mo.gov/pearce.