(Jackson, MS) – Things are once again looking bleak for beer down south…



Two separate Mississippi news publication polls show that 97% and 79% of voters, respectively, are in favor of a bill to raise the state’s alcohol limit to 8% ABW. Despite these results, local politicians aren’t budging. From the Hattiesburg American:

“It’s frustrating because it’s reasonable. All you would is bring our laws in line with every single other state. As it is, you’re limiting choice. We have one brewer (Lazy Magnolia) in Mississippi. They’ve had to turn down brewing contracts because the recipe would have resulted in a higher alcohol content. They have literally lost business because of this law. I haven’t given up on these, but if it has anything to do with alcohol, (Lt. Gov.) Phil (Bryant) doesn’t want to see it.”

Bryant said in an e-mailed statement that he did “not see a reasonable public benefit to increasing the alcohol content in Mississippi.”

Sen. Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, chairman of the Finance Committee, confirmed that the beer legislation stood zero chance of making it out of his committee, and that he wouldn’t introduce it.

“I really don’t want to put my committee members in an uncomfortable position in an election year,” he said of his reasons for not bringing the bill to a vote.

Apparently in Mississippi, politicians aren’t elected to serve their constituents and make changes that those constituents want. From what Kirby says, you might as well shut down the legislature in an election year. State taxpayers would never want these politicians to feel “uncomfortable.”

Anheuser-Busch was the sixth largest donor to the coffers of Mississippi politicians in 2009, the last election year. $2,000 of that was donated to Kirby.

Mississippi is known as the Magnolia State. The name, “Magnolia,” is said to mean dignity and nobility among other things.