Former Alcohol Regulator, Former Attorney General and Leading Safety Advocate to Discuss Importance of Alcohol Regulation
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) is pleased to announce a panel of three experts who will offer insight and perspective about the important role of state-based alcohol regulation during the “Because Alcohol is Different” panel during the General Session at NBWA’s 72nd Annual Convention & Trade Show, September 22-25 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Alcohol is the only consumer product that is the subject of two amendments to the United States Constitution, and its inherent characteristics require that it not be treated like other consumer products. It is subject to regulation by government at all levels as policymakers seek to balance competition with effective regulation. During the “Because Alcohol is Different” panel, Convention attendees will hear from a former state attorney general, a former state alcohol regulator and the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). These advocates for effective public policy and public safety will offer their thoughts on how to assist policymakers and the public in striking that proper balance.
Participating on the “Because Alcohol Is Different” panel are the following experts:
• Pamela A. Erickson who is a former alcohol regulator. From 1996 to 2003, she was the executive director of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. Erickson left that position to work for Oregon Partnership in the non-profit field of alcohol abuse prevention, specializing in the reduction of underage drinking. As a prevention advocate, she gained an increased appreciation for the value of alcohol regulation and its effectiveness as increasingly demonstrated by research. Erickson currently operates her own company called Public Action Management, PLC, where she focuses on public education programs and recently wrote a white paper, “The Dangers of Alcohol Deregulation: The United Kingdom Experience.” The report explores alcohol deregulation in the United Kingdom in relation to the current alcohol epidemic there.
• Chuck Hurley who is the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and has more than 30 years of experience in highway safety and fighting drunk driving. Prior to joining MADD in 2005, Hurley served as the vice president of the Transportation Safety Group for the National Safety Council and as the executive director of the Council’s Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign. In 2004, Hurley received the J. Stannard Baker Award for Highway Safety from the International Association of Chiefs of Police for his lifetime commitment and outstanding contribution to highway safety. Hurley has testified before Congress multiple times and has appeared over 200 times on major media networks including ABC, CNN and NBC.
• James M. Petro is the former attorney general of Ohio. During his term as attorney general, the State of Ohio was a principal party in five cases decided by the United States Supreme Court, and Petro appeared personally to argue one before the Court in Wilkinson v. Austin. Petro authored the amicus briefs for fellow state attorneys general in the Granholm v. Heald case before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Costco v. Hoen case before the Ninth Circuit. Petro is a member of Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley Co., L.P.A., in Columbus, Ohio.
The “Because Alcohol is Different” panel will be during the General Session on Thursday, September 24, and will be moderated by Marc Carmichael who has been the president of the Indiana Beverage Alliance for ten years. Carmichael has also served in the Indiana House of Representatives and is the author of A History of Alcohol and Politics in Indiana which was published this year.
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The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America’s 2,850 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution.