Some States To Allow High-Power Beer: Good Idea or Not?

Several states have already passed laws to allow up to 16% over the past several years. The average alcohol content of most beers is about 4.5%. Ohio began allowing up to 12% in 2002, and since then Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina have followed suit. Vermont and Montana lifted their caps last year, and Alabama now allows up to 13.9% alcohol as of May of this year.

The Brewer’s Association argues that limiting the amount of alcohol also limits the flavor, because it is not possible to add as much malt or sugar. They also point out that consumers of microbrews “don’t drink to get drunk. They drink to appreciate the flavors.” In my experience, the people that are treated in trauma centers are not drinking beer for the flavor. It’s hard to argue the “drinking for the flavor” point when you are drinking upwards of a case of beer a day.

There are two major problems with raising the alcohol limits in beer. First, people are creatures of habit. They will spend the same amount of time at the tap, which may result in the same number of beers consumed, even thought they are more potent. The second issue is that if the beer is double-strength or more, one glass will raise blood alcohol to twice the normal level.

For an average 150lb person, one standard beer (5% alcohol) will raise blood alcohol by about 0.03. A single beer with 14% alcohol will raise the blood alcohol level to over 0.08, which is the legal limit for driving. So tossing down a single super-powered beer could land one in jail, the trauma center, or in the morgue. Is it all worth the “better taste?”