In an Aug. 24 article, "Wine shops sour on new tasting rule," a store owner was concerned over an amendment to LD 498 which states, "Taste-testing activities must be conducted in a manner that precludes the possibility of observation by children."

The bill allows for the tasting of distilled spirits, wine and malt liquor on an off-premise licensee's premises. There is a much larger issue than the amendment that Rep. David Webster put into LD 498.

The tasting bill, LD 498, coupled with LD 989, "An Act to Allow for a Dual Liquor License," would allow an establishment that carries a stock of at least $35,000 of wine to sell wine to customers who are having a meal.

This means that grocery stores and big-box stores could now serve wine on site to customers. Families and children who once went to the store to buy food and clothing could now stop, have a meal and drink.

Why are we creating a culture that makes drinking the norm? I am very confused as to why alcohol is now being seen here as an economic driver and not a major public health issue.

The National Institutes of Health point out that "Substance abuse clearly is among the most costly health problems in the United States. Among national estimates of the costs of illness for 33 diseases and conditions, alcohol ranked second, tobacco ranked sixth, and drug disorders ranked seventh."

According to a 2007 Cost Report from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse, the total economic cost of drug and alcohol abuse in Maine in 2005 was estimated at $898.4 million.

These new laws are ensuring that alcohol is indeed everywhere!

As Mainers we need to step back and think about how this type of legislation can be detrimental to our families and our future.

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