Required by Law to Drink Stronger Beer?

BeerTapTV pointed me towards an interesting article that was recently published in The Denver Post concerning new laws that just might affect your drinking habits when you go to the pub/bar in the future. You may be well aware of what is commonly called the 3.2 law where beer above 3.2% alcohol cannot be sold in food stores or corner stores. Well, also a law has been in place that prohibits drinking establishments to sell beer these 3.2% beers, although this  has never really been regulated. All that is about to change as "convenience store advocates and their allies in the legislature amended a bill last spring that now requires the state to enforce license restrictions to a T."

The corner store advocates are tired of being bullied into selling only the 3.2% beers and want to have more options available at their shops. Liquor store owners don't like this idea as
it would potentially drive business away from their establishments, so the people advocating this bill have found a way to force the issue into the open. Either the bars will have to stop selling what the corner stores sell, or they'll need to drop the regulations about who can sell what altogether. As Jay Brookston points out, the law is surprisingly an old one and was originally intended to regulate who could sell what, and where they could sell it after prohibition ended.

Beer aisle at a grocery store in Portland

Coming from Portland, Oregon I am having a hard time believing what I'm reading. Concerning what beer can be sold in corner and grocery stores - In Portland, convenience stores all over the city carry great craft beer, not just the industrial products. In my opinion it's a beautiful thing to see a microbrewery's products sold on the corner so that people have more options than Bud and Coors. Or at a grocery store you can get a special beer right there that pairs with the food you're buying. Having good beer in these places actually cultivates a greater interest in craft beer and the market expands in large ways. So, I don't understand why corner stores can't sell these products, and I've heard rumors it's the craft beer people that don't want the beer in those stores. I just don't understand that. Concerning not allowing these low alcohol beers served in drinking establishments, it seems like this will cause some huge problems. I'm not the biggest fan of industrial beers, but it's important to have the option. But session beers are a common offering in British and Irish Style pubs, and they won't be able to serve those. On top of that, as one commenter says, "If people want a beer with their pizza they'll be required by law to drink stronger beer?" Another person says, "Guinness will be exclusive to the 7-11 on the corner!" Doesn't that just boggle your brains?

I'll keep you all posted on developments as, obviously, the ruling will affect drinking habits even in the Pikes Peak Region. Hopefully we'll see some sort of petition we can all sign and get rid of these absurd regulations.