Threat to the control states and the impact on public health

Immediately following the repeal of prohibition, states were given the authority to regulate beverage alcohol as per the 21st Amendment. Eighteen states and several counties in Maryland chose to implement a system of control that included the state taking ownership of the product (distilled spirits, and in some cases, wine)at the wholesale and/or retail level. Over the years some of the states have given up the retail sales responsibility but all have retained wholesale. During the last several years, actions by several organizations to de-regulate alcohol sales by allowing on-line purchasing, direct shipping, and other efforts to allow easier access to alcohol may significantly hamper states from continuing their efforts to control alcohol via these systems. The control systems have been studied and have been found to be an important mechanism for reducing problems related to alcohol. This presentation will briefly describe the state control systems, how they play a role in the protection of public health related to the consumption of alcohol, and the threats that these systems face in today's environment to ease regulation on alcoholic beverages