California Farmers' Markets are for Fresh Food, Not Wine Tasting

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STOP AB 2488, Keep Farmers' Markets Family-Friendly

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May 29, 2014, 09:00 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, May 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Alcohol Justice is asking the California Legislature and Governor Brown to step away from allowing alcohol product tastings at farmers' markets in the state. California residents are encouraged to TAKE ACTION to STOP AB 2488.

"Kids, you go on a pony ride while I taste the chardonnay, is what you might hear a parent say at your local certified farmers' market if AB 2488 becomes law," stated Bruce Lee Livingston, Executive Director / CEO of Alcohol Justice. "And where we have little lambs and wine tastings, the craft brew tastings and micro-distillery tastings will surely follow."

AB 2488, authored by Assembly Member Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), came as a surprise to Alcohol Justice. "We have always had strong support from Marc before this on evidence-based, common-sense alcohol control issues," stated Michael Scippa, Public Affairs Director at Alcohol Justice. "We're very disappointed that public health and safety will be taking a back seat to wine tasting with his bill."

AB 2488 would expand the certified farmers' market permit (Type 79) to allow wine or hard cider tastings during farmers' market hours solely at the discretion of the market managers. The bill is endorsed by wine promoting groups including California Association of Winegrape Growers, California Farm Bureau Federation, Family Winemakers of California, and the Wine Institute. The bill would open a familiar door for beer and spirits producers who will then demand equal opportunity. Big Alcohol will continue its obsession to make tastings available wherever, and whenever alcohol is sold.

Alcohol Justice researchers issue these warnings:

Daytime tastings, with little to no monitoring, in family-friendly settings, are inappropriate and threaten public health and safety
Beverage service training and monitoring is absent from the legislation
The $50 fee for a license is too low to provide for proper enforcement
Children watching parents drinking alcohol when they shop for fruit or vegetables is a practice very damaging to impressionable young minds
Farmers' market alcohol tastings will "normalize" youth expectations and attitudes about alcohol use and only make them more accepting of underage consumption

"Farmers' markets are supposed to be about fresh air shopping directly from the healthy choice producers, not about adding another poorly regulated alcohol outlet," added Livingston. "Uncorking wine at farmers' markets lets the evil genie of alcohol harm out of the bottle for everyone. If consumers want to taste wine they can buy a bottle and try it at home."

For more information and to send a message to the California Legislature and Governor Brown, click here: TAKE ACTION.