Tennessee could ban the sale of cold beer in all retail stores, including gas stations and convenience stores, in an effort to curb drunk driving.
Republican lawmakers are proposing the ban in the state Senate, saying it would help reduce car accidents in the state, up to a third of which involve alcohol.
Senator Ron Gant proposed the bill after being involved in an “extremely tragic” alcohol-involved car accident in 2022, where a drunk driver died after crossing a lane and crashing into his vehicle.
Tennessee has one of the highest numbers of car accident deaths in the entire country, with 1,330 fatalities on its roads in 2022.
Indiana has previously imposed restrictions on the sale of cold beer at several of its retail stores, except liquor stores, while many states have imposed other restrictions on alcohol, such as allowing its sale only at specific stores.
Republican lawmakers are proposing the ban in the state Senate, saying it would help reduce car accidents in the state, up to a third of which involve alcohol.
Representative Gant said State Affairs: ‘Right now, we make it very easy for alcohol to be available, not only to adults but also to minors.
“The intent here is to curb access to chilled, refrigerated alcohol in convenience stores and retail establishments.”
He added: “A lot of times, especially in the afternoon, people get off work, they’ve had a long, hard day (and) they want a beer.”
‘A lot of people (then) come in and buy a six-pack or a 12-pack and start drinking it on the way home.
‘The first question to ask is: If we know we can’t drink and drive and we know that’s the law in Tennessee, and if a driver can’t have an open container in the car, (then) why does he have to? ? be cold?
“Why can’t you sell warm water to discourage drivers from buying that cold beer and drinking it on the way home?”
Gant was involved in a fatal traffic accident in October 2022, when a vehicle crossed a lane and collided with his car.
He was airlifted to a Memphis hospital for multiple surgeries and an extended ICU stay, and can now only walk with the aid of a cane.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death among people between the ages of one and 54 in the United States, with about 117 reported each day.
About a third are DUIs (or driving under the influence) when alcohol is involved in the accident.
Deaths from car accidents are increasing in the United States: About 42,000 Americans lose their lives in accidents each year, 16 percent more than five years ago. About a third of them involve alcohol.
Mississippi has the highest rate (34 deaths per 100,000 vehicles) of deaths from auto collisions, followed by New Mexico (26), South Carolina (24), and Louisiana (23).
The bill, called SB2636, was introduced on January 31 by Republicans and has already passed two readings in the Senate.
It has now been referred to a committee, but will still need to pass another vote in the Senate. A similar bill has also been proposed in the state House.
The National Security Council (NSC) estimates that 46,270 people died last year, a slight drop from 46,980 in 2020, but more than before Covid-19.
The bill will also need to be signed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee before it can become law.
It’s unclear how long it will take for the bill to become law, but it could easily be more than a year.
Some lawmakers have already expressed support for the bill, including Republican William Lambeth, saying, “It’s been less than two years since (Gant) was almost killed by a drunk driver.”
“This man still uses a cane to limp through the halls of the legislature here to serve his constituents.”
He added: “For the love of God, don’t drink and drive.” Don’t drink that cold beer you bought while buying gas.
However, several beer makers in the state have expressed concern about the law, saying it could hurt sales.
Andy Ashby, co-owner of Memphis Made Brewing, said: “This would be very detrimental to our brewery and the beer business in general.”
‘In beer sales there is a saying: cold is gold.
‘(This) would have a huge, huge impact. Package sales account for 40 to 50 percent of our sales, and 90 percent of them are cold.’