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Your 40 Oz Freedom May No Longer Be Sublime in San Bernardino

malt-liquor-store.jpg
Photo by dianagurley via Flickr

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Some consumers who enjoy picking up a single bottle of beer or wine at the market may soon have to make other plans for their partying in the City of San Bernardino. Yesterday their City Council "gave preliminary approval to a new ordinance taking aim at malt liquors and fortified wines sold in individual containers," according to LA Now. That ordinance? A ban. The ban, which aims to increase public safety, comes from the assertion by officials that "these types alcohol can cause drinkers to become drunk quickly."

San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris believes that these single-sale containers constitute "a serious public health issue," and consumption lead to "increased criminal activity" near where the alcohol is purchased.

What's on the ban?

-- Beer and malt liquor in containers smaller than 40 ounces.
-- Certain types of fortified wine and malt liquor sold individually instead of in factory packaging.
-- Malt liquor with a high amount of alcohol.
-- Hard liquor in small bottles

Under the proposed ban, authorities in the city will be able to "take action against store owners who continue to sell the banned drinks."

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