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Local rep's stronger beer bill falls short A local legislator who is also a minister was the sponsor of a failed bill that would have increased the alcohol content of beer in order for imported and gourmet beers to be sold in the state. The Alabama House of Representatives last week rejected the bill sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville. Rep. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, also supported the bill. Jackson told the Associated Press that the bill would have allowed the sale of some imported and gourmet beers that have a higher alcohol content than the 6 percent now allowed. Jackson's bill would have increased the allowable alcohol content to 14.9 percent. The bill failed on a 49-39 vote, short of the two-thirds vote required to bring the measure up for a vote. Jackson said allowing the sale of gourmet and imported beers would help tourism and stop people from driving to neighboring states to buy the products. But some legislators argued it would make it easier for young people to get drunk and would increase the problem of driving of while under the influence of alcohol. "I can't see us doing something that's going to encourage people to drink more and get drunk faster," said Rep. DuWayne Bridges, DValley. Jackson, an associate pastor in the Church of God in Christ and an Upward Bound teacher at Alabama Southern Community College in Thomasville, said the bill would allow the sales of gourmet and imported beers, but would not change the alcohol content in most American made beers.
"Budweiser will still be Budweiser. Miller will still be Miller. That's what the kids drink," Jackson said. He said most of the beers that would be affected are expensive, costing as much as $7 a beer.
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