Selling warm beer only

[Merika]

This bill may actually be considered in several states in the US. Anyone have any opinions?
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- A state senator wants to force Missouri stores to sell warm beer. Under a bill by Sen. Bill Alter, grocery and convenience stores would risk losing their liquor licenses if they sold beer colder than 60 degrees. The intent is to cut down on drunken driving by making it less tempting to pop open a beer after leaving the store.

"The only reason why beer would need to be cold is so that it can be consumed right away," Alter, who has been a police offer for more than 20 years, said Thursday.

He said the idea came from a fifth-grade student in Jefferson County who was participating in a program to teach elementary students about state government. He sought their suggestions for new laws and chose the cold beer ban from a list of the top three ideas.

"I thought it had the best chance at getting legislative attention," said Alter, R-High Ridge. "Plus, I think it's a good idea whether or not other people do."

Some lawmakers and lobbyists, however, are lukewarm about the idea.

Ron Leone, executive vice president for the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, said the combination of Missouri's drinking and driving laws and designated driver programs already have curbed the number of people who drink and drive.

"It would be an inconvenience for law-abiding citizens who want to purchase cold beer for picnics, parties and social gatherings," he said. "People who want to drive drunk will drive drunk anyway."

Leone said he didn't know if there was a standard temperature at which beer is sold, but added that most refrigerators are set in the mid-to-low 40s.

[Ayla]

I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA. IF YOU'RE HAVING A PARTY OR PICNIC IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU REALLY DO LAST MINUTE. YOU'VE GOT TIME TO GRAB AN ICE CHEST AND A BAG OF ICE TO CHILL THE BEER. IT'S NOT GONNA ELIMINATE DRUNK DRIVING ALL TOGETHER BUT IT'LL PROLLY CUT DOWN ON SOME OF IT.

[Merika]

I buy mine cold....but I could just as easy buy it earlier so it has time to get cold in the fridge. Living around a base and it having so many contractors....I know for sure that MANY of them pick up a cold six pack to drive home on. I don't know if that's a major contributor to wrecks or anything....but it certainly contributes to drunk driving.

If they didn't have to sell it cold....maybe they could sell it cheaper.

[Weiser]

Any time I go out and buy beer I drink it within 30-40 minutes. I pick it up right before I go out, there is no chill time at all. I need it cold damn it!

I've never drank and drove at the same time, but I have drank while in a moving car. We call them road rockets. Nothing like priming up on the way to the bar!

[Duke]

I think it's a great idea and will also cut down on the energy bills of all retailers. Maybe we'll see kickbacks in the form of lower prices.