FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dave Heylen, V.P. Communications California Grocers Association
Tel: 916.448.3545
Fax: 916.448.2793
E-mail: [email protected]
California Grocers Association
1415 L Street, Suite 450
Sacramento, CA 95814
SACRAMENTO, CA — (June 28, 2011) – Ron Fong, President and CEO of the California Grocers Association, today released the following statement in response to the passage of Assembly Bill 183 (Ma) by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee:
“Research from the California Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC) shows that minors are not buying alcohol at supermarkets. AB 183 is a waste of taxpayer dollars and is designed for one purpose – to pressure non-union grocery stores that utilize assisted self-checkouts, not stopping minors from getting alcohol.
“Our members take the sale of alcohol to minors very seriously and follow policies and procedures to ensure that this does not happen at our grocery stores. In fact, recent data from the ABC shows that the vast majority of minor sales violations aren’t even occurring at grocery stores.
“Given the state’s current fiscal crisis and the unprecedented rates of unemployment, we had hoped that the Senate committee members would see this legislation for what it is – another attempt to kill jobs in California.”
To see the latest ABC information on violations for sales to minors– please visit our Government Relations page.
The California Grocers Association is a non-profit trade association representing the food industry since 1898 and represents approximately 500 retail members operating over 6,000 stores in California and Nevada.