We still need you to call the Governor’s office. The response so far has been nothing short of phenomenal, but please don’t think we can take the pressure off yet: Governor Riley has until Monday 25th May to decide whether to allow or veto the bill (you read correctly – AL’s constitution takes no notice of public holidays!).
It only takes a minute to call, fax, or email the Governor’s office in support of HB373, the Gourmet Beer Bill:
Switchboard: (334) 242-7100
Fax: (334) 353-0004
Email form: http://www.governor.alabama.gov/contact/contact_form.aspx
Let’s Free The Hops!
56 Comments
So the gov has until Thursday, is that correct?
see my edit to the post for clarity
Ahh, all clear.
While I applaud the grassroots efforts of the FTH movement, there are so many more important and worthwhile issues and legislation to rally around than having the legal alcohol content marginally increased. You already have plenty of beer and liquor options available- use them.
While I applaud your lofty civic mindedness, use your time on the other issues and leave our issue alone.
there are also plenty of options of dish detergent but if we could only buy 10% of the ones made i would fight to have a choice. The legislator has too much in fighting to get almost anything done. If they did there job and voted on things instead of letting petty arguments and revenge get in the way we would all be much happier. We are the a shining example of people organizing and fighting for a cause we believe in. You are welcome to do the same if there is matter that you feel strong about. Organize with like minded people start something your self make government work for you. When that happens we all win. Go get’em
My evidence of the poison pen is “Hntsvillian”. We are fighting to get Alabama into the 21st century, meanwhile we are hovering in the late 19th century. Im right about being infiltrated by naysayers and prohibitionists.
Hntsvillian, is that like saying since there are plenty of McDonalds around, we shouldn’t waste our time promoting better tasting hamburgers? Why read literature when there are so many magazines around. Give me a break.
Hey Hntsvillian,
HoIn theory, I agree with you that there are lots of other issues that could be taken up that would have a bigger effect on more people’s lives (like removing the grocery tax). However, 1) one of the great things about our country is that everyone can decide what their important issue is and fight for it, and 2) our legislature doesn’t show much ability to get through the “big” issues like the grocery tax, so we might as well get through some small isues and make change where we can. Now, if I could only not be made into a criminal for homebrewing . . .
and here we have the true voice of the opposition to FTH: paternalistic, pastronising, condescending, anti-democratic.
Hnus-villian your right, we should quit now. I’m going to call the governor now. “Sir, I know the bill is on your desk, yeah don’t worry about it.”
While they may be more important things to discuss and get behind… I really don’t believe anyone going to argue with that statement… We all feel have choices in the State of Alabama is a pretty big deal. This current issue happens to be beer.
While you may be perfectly happy settling for what Alabama allows you to drink, I am not. I’m not satisfied allowing the government, to tell me I don’t have the right/it’s against the law to drink a better beer.
I do have a question for you. What is your favorite beer?
Nice of you to crawl out from under your rock and enlighten us. Had we only known we’ve been wasting our time working on this when we should have been solving world hunger while sipping on Coors Light. Where have you been all this time?
Let me attempt to enlighten you. I lived in several other states before moving here. Alabama has a reputation in progressive parts of the country as being backward and behind the times. The judgemental, ignorant and narrow-minded thinking exhibited in your post is exactly why that perception exists. Please crawl back under your rock, or into your trailer, or stick your head back up your ass and leave us alone. For heaven’s sake, please don’t communicate in a public forum again, you’re embarrassing.
Randy Randy. There are far more conservative portions of the country(many states) than “progressive parts”. I would imagine that just about anything is tolerated in SanFran and New England but invoking other regions of the country as your empirical evidence of how backwards Alabama is not only embarrasses yourself but offends others who like this state(like Dan Roberts in this comments section) and those that don’t should leave it. Let’s focus on the issues and facts and not begin namecalling thereby making things personal- that’s the easiest, non-thinking thing that one can do. Don’t be that guy.
You don’t think telling me to live with my current beer choices is getting personal? Are you for real? You want to deal with facts? Here you go – for the record – I never said I don’t like Alabama. I merely described our reputation. I like it here and I choose to live here. I want these laws changed for two reasons. First, I love good beer. (I suggest you try one – it may improve your personality.) Second, it’s a step in the right direction in changing those perceptions. I’m tired of hosting business clients from the more progressive areas of the country (There are a lot more than you’re aware of. I’d tell you to get out more but that would be counter productive to improving our reputation) and listening to their stereotypical jokes and insults after the wait staff explain their beer choices. Their comments almost always include the words “backwards” and “behind the times”. I couldn’t dislike that more if I were a native.
As for you “hsvillian”, I’m finished. I usually ignore crap like what you posted. I was bored when I chose to respond. It’s obvious from the lack of meaningful substance in your post that you only wrote to get a rise out of someone. You strike me as one of those judgmental, condescending, ignorant, pompous asses that requires the last word. I would bet that you’re an absolute joy to live/work with. Anyway, the last word is all yours. This is my last post. Cheers!
Oh geez, I screwed up. I meant “hntsvillian”, not “hsvillian”. Sorry for any confusion.
Gotta love that argument, “if you don’t like you can just get out!” Doesn’t that very argument go against the very principles of the Constitution? (the U.S. not the back assward Alabama document)
Um, as another HSVillian, does my vote counteract this guy’s? The FTH legislation is just one of many ways to help drag this state into the 21st century. AL politics are dauntingly screwed up, and for some of us who are just passing through, so to speak, this issue is an admittedly small but meaningful way to improve quality of life here.
By plenty of choices of beer/liquor do you mean:
Coors “Coooooos” Lite
Miller “Milluh” Lite
Pabst
Budweiser
Natural Light
I’m sorry but to me that is not beer. That is water. Try taking a sip of Budweiser right before a sip of Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale and tell me that Budweiser is “beer” or even classifiable in the same category.
You might as well have said:
“Yeah, what’s wrong with the beer we got? I mean the beer we got drink pretty good don’t it? I ain’t never heard nobody complain about the uh beer we have. It drink pretty good! Budweiser…uh what’s the name of some of those other beers, Budweiser and what else? MILLUH.”
Why try to bring everybody down, hntsvillian?
Most of us would probably agree with you that there are many other things to support, but since much other legislation has already failed (the food tax removal, extending unemployment benefits, etc), we are rallying behind this. This isn’t just about “marginally increasing” beer alcohol content. This is about our rights. It’s also going to increase support for AMERICAN-MADE BEER that is made in great large American cities & small American towns by hard-working American workers. That in itself is reason to support the bill—it supports American jobs and an increased presence in the Alabama market for these companies.
So, go ride your high horse elsewhere and let these fine FTH folks continue to support something they’ve worked extremely hard to get this far.
SIGN, RILEY, SIGN!!!!!
If I’ve already sent in an email, should I call as well or just leave it at that.
that’s fine, thank you!
I also called the mayor of Hoover, Senator Shelby, and Senator Sessions and asked them to call Governor Riley in support of HB373.
Not sure if you heard, Stewart, but Lee Davis used your name in vein on his talk radio show (I believe last Friday or maybe Thursday), but he laughed and said something to the effect that Riley would never sign HB373. He also brought the wine bill in with it, maybe not knowing that it had been signed, which showed his knowledge of the matter.
I honestly don’t care what “other people” think about Alabama. Why does anyone else? There are things about it I would like to change like some of its beer laws, obviously, but it has nothing to do with whether or not someone considers my home “backwards” or “brutish.”
I was born here, left, and then came back. If you don’t like it here, I’m sorry but I love it.
Well, I’ve called, my wife has called I have forced everyone I know to call, the only loved ones in my life that haven’t called or emailed the governor are my dogs. They are totally in favor of the bill, but only for their own selfish needs…..their master tends to share bits of steak/fish/chicken when grilling more freely after 2-3 Dogfish 90 minute’s.
I’m still on vacation and will expound on various matters at greater length soon… but everyone please note we originally said the Gov. had 6 days to sign the bill because we believed it had been transmitted to him on Thurs. It actually didn’t get transmitted until Fri. and because of that he has 10 days instead of 6. The rules and law governing the flow of a bill on its way to becoming law are strange and confusing…
Just thinking optimistically folks, but what’s next on the agenda after Riley signs this? How ’bout since Erwin is running for Lt. Governor we get Sunday sales going in Shelby County? Or at least vote someone in that could get behind that… Once Bruno’s closes down in south Hoover a lot of north Pelhamites on the Highway 31 side are gonna have to drive a lot further than 5 mins to get to a Jefforson county store for a bottle of wine to have with Sunday dinner.
How bout 22 oz so I can get my Maharajah IPA?
Luckily Stone sells Ruination IPA in 12 oz 6-packs… like the 4 I just brought back from FL.
IF the Governor signs HB373, THEN there will be plenty of time to decide what’s next. Until the ABV change becomes law, nothing else will be discussed.
I hope it is signed soon, because The Nook would love to see these beers added to their beer list.
And the Nooks Patron’s would love to come and drink them!
The Nook will definitely get more money from my wallet than it already does.
How ’bout the homebrew issue next? Just a thought.
Matt, Alabama’s home brewers are handling the issue, and FTH respects their desire to handle it themselves. We fully support their efforts
I can’t stand that dismissive “The legislature has more important things to do” argument. Drives me up the wall. So what then, should we just abandon our cause because some self-appointed monitor deems it unworthy of MY legislature’s time? Yes, it’s MY legislature too, don’t you forget. This bill has patiently paid its dues for quite some time now, and it has finally been passed. And of course I care about other issues, by why does that have to preclude consideration of the beer bill?
There’s no logical argument to counter that since it is an emotional position. Just like those who used the “think of the children” argument against the bill in the face of evidence that children do not want top beer. There’s no logic behind that stance, some people believe that this bill will cause rampant drunkenness among our youngsters, won’t happen, but try to convince them of that. It’s a free country, let them have their say tell them they are wrong, and offer a nice Arrogant Bastard.
Splendid idea.
Why stop there? Offer a Double Bastard!
Seriously guys, Hntsvillian (Troll?) made an intelligent respectful argument and the rest of you peed in his Cornflakes.
It is a great effort on the part of FTH to get this done and to motivate a great amount of Alabama people to get out and have their voices heard. Credit is earned!
I just hope we remember what has happened here and not let our activism go silent while we drown ourselves in Dubels and Triples.
Speaking of continued activism (and not the premature the-bill’s-not-signed-yet kind), is everyone else as worried as me that Erwin wants the gavel? After having listened to days of mind-bendingly rambling and grammar-poor live senate audio I noticed that not only was his opposition to alcohol legislation riddled with stubbornness and inconsistencies, but so was basically every discussion he weighed in on. I’m not saying he doesn’t have the right to hold a different belief, just that I don’t think that someone opposed to rational discussion doesn’t deserve the privilege of making laws.
I don’t understand why someone would assume that just because someone is supporting this particular bill he isn’t also supporting other bills as well. That’s a very narrow view of things…
Fortunately, Hntsvillian is entitled to an opinion. Contrary to popular belief and wit, I do not have to respect that opinion – only one’s right to have one.
BTW, I volunteered at Habitat for Humanity last week so stick it where the sun don’t shine.
WTH?
What’s the likelihood that he will sign the bill “under the table”??
I don’t think you can enact a law “under the table”…
I agree with Hntsvillian that we have really big problems that the State Legislature needs to attend to with sincerity.
The reality is that the Legislature is so disfunctional that legislation that should be a “lay up”, like the FTH bill, has to become part of a larger turf war. This is a simple issue that has been made overly complex due to these turf wars.
Sure, it isn’t the most important bill ever considered by the Governor, and no it isn’t going to move the needle in Alabama…. which is why his signature SHOULD be a GIVEN. It is the will of the people in this State. It was/is the will of the people in 48 other States where these products are sold. It is not complex to me.
Focus people, focus. Gov. Riley signed a few bills yesterday including a requirement on judges experience, and a change to the minimum age one can drop out of high school.
His pen is warm. Now is not the time to divide up and bicker. Focus on getting calls into Gov. Riley.
I think after I stop focusing on getting the primary FTH bill signed. I’ll focus on being against having Erwin as Lt. Gov. =)
Question? If Governor Riley does not sign the document with in this time period and it does not become law, then can he sign it in the next Legislative session?
Nope. If he doesn’t sign it then next year we’re starting from scratch and would have to pass both houses again. Obviously we don’t want this to happen so call, get your friends to call, and have them get their friends to call!
If he doesn’t sign it by midnight 5/25/09 its dead then you start all over again in the 2010 session.
I don’t understand…why hasn’t he signed it!!! Argh!!!
Getting a little concerned. SIGN IT ALREADY.
Maybe not a great time to ask, but can someone please tell me what hops have to do with alcohol content?
I know you’re sincerely curious, but this question has been asked 100 times. Whoever said Free the Hops was only here to change the ABV law?
In a nutshell, it sounds cool, it directly relates to beer, and FTH is about more than just ABV anyway. Assuming this battle gets wrapped up, there are plenty of beer-related issues that need to be tackled.
Plus, “Free the Malt” doesn’t make it beer-specific and in the public mind it sounds too much like malt liquor.
Thanks Dan. Makes perfect sense.
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