Grain Alcohol Ban Shows Maryland is Serious About DUI Offenses

Written By The Law Office of Edward Tayter Staff Writer

The first of the month saw several new laws take effect in Maryland, including a ban on the sale of grain alcohol.

The law, which defines grain alcohol as any alcoholic product at or above 190 proof (about 95 percent alcohol), was sponsored by Maryland State Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. and Del. Charles Barkley and is intended to curb binge drinking on Maryland’s college campuses while increasing awareness of the risks associated with drinks that have extremely high alcoholic content, according to media reports.

It focuses on those who sell and distribute grain alcohol, rather than someone being caught in possession of grain alcohol, and includes a $1,000 fine. With the passage of the new law, Maryland joined the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, which have already implemented similar bans.

The new prohibition has been strongly supported by a collection of Maryland university presidents, who have argued that the low cost of grain alcohol has fueled binge-drinking among college students. Their argument is based, in part, on the nearly 1,800 alcohol-related deaths that take place among the collegiate population every year.

Incidents of fatal alcohol poisoning, however, are not the only reason for the ban. According to Sen. Karen S. Montgomery, who was quoted in the Washington Post, grain alcohol often equates to a “date rape drug” and is widely known to be used by college students and others looking to take advantage of intoxicated victims.

There has been some backlash to the new regulation, with some complaining that the law isn’t harsh enough and others decrying the ban as an unnecessary layer of regulation in an overly regulated state that will have little to no effect on the larger issue of alcohol abuse among college students.

Maryland Sen. Edward Reilly was among those who went on the record questioning whether the law will prove effective, reportedly saying, “If two shots of 80 proof are the same as one shot of grain alcohol, does it really matter if we ban one level of alcohol by volume?”

Dissenting opinions aside, the implementation of the ban is clearly an effort to curb a serious issue that plagues many college campuses. It is far too early to properly analyze the effects the new law will have on binge drinking in colleges, but it does serve as a pointed reminder to college students throughout the state that their actions can result in serious legal and academic repercussions. Though the law focuses on those who sell and distribute grain alcohol, its passage should send a clear message to university students – and their parents — that Maryland authorities are keen to crack down on DUI-related accidents and deaths and are therefore adopting a much more stringent stance when it comes to implementing and enforcing DUI laws.

If you, or your college-bound child, have been charged with DUI, DWI, sexual misconduct, or any other alcohol-related misconduct and are facing legal consequences and academic discipline, the Law Office of Edward Tayter can help. Mr. Tayter is a skilled litigator who has successfully defended many clients in the Maryland region against various alcohol-related offenses. Call his law office today to schedule a free, initial consultation.