The State Legislature is debating food and drink. Legislators have fed the debate over what the official state vegetable should be. Some say it should be the onion, while others favor sweet corn, but now they are considering a more serious issue.

On Tuesday, April 12, 2011, the Senate Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee held a hearing regarding high-alcohol flavored malt beverages popular with young adults called “alcopops”. (Please note that this link is not endorsed by NYCF, but is provided for a better description of what the product is, and how its consumption could affect an individual.)

State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx), Chairman of the Committee, described the drink as “a cheap way, and easy way frankly—for young people to get drunk.”

Klein proposes designating such drinks (composed of more than 6 percent alcohol) as “liquor” and limiting sales to liquor stores.

The hearing featured testimony from various state agencies, business organizations, and health groups including the state Liquor Authority, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and New York Association of Convenience Stores.

There seems to be no question about it. These drinks are being marketed to teenagers, even though they cannot legally purchase them until age 21.  Rev. Jason J. McGuire, NYCF's Executive Director, calls the alcopops "spiked kool-aid," and says, "It is immoral for these companies to market this product to teens."