I said if I heard anything regarding yesterday's blog on "Cocktail Crimes", I would keep you posted.
I was emailed this statement by the California ABC:
"California has a comprehensive licensing structure for the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages and the ABC is tasked with enforcing laws related to the exercising of license privileges. The California Legislature has established within the ABC Act a variety of licenses, each with specific privileges. Only licensed manufacturers or rectifiers may actually produce alcoholic beverages. This structure helps protect the public health and safety, and insures the integrity of alcoholic beverage products in the marketplace.
The Department’s 2008 Industry Advisory on the ‘rectification’ matter was prepared and disseminated in response to a significant number of public inquiries on the subject of infusing liquor with items such as sugar and fruit on premises licensed as restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The advisory explains that engaging in a process of fermentation or maturation that changes the character or nature of the alcoholic beverage could, in fact, be considered rectification and prohibited without proper licensure, but makes clear that the mixing of alcohol with other ingredients for immediate consumption is perfectly acceptable.
Recently, Department Investigators conducted inspections and investigations at licensed establishments in response to complaints. During these investigations, possible violations of license privileges involving alcohol infusion were observed, and owners and employees were given warnings. As yet, no decision has been made as to what action, if any, the Department may take with respect to these matters. Generally the subject of alcohol infusion is a very low enforcement priority."
What is the source of consumer "complaints" regarding infusions?
I wonder if the "complaints" that were investigated were from consumers that became ill from improperly stored or accidentally fermented fresh ingredient infusions vs. the liquor companies trying to sew up the flavored vodka market for themselves?? If someone was made ill by poor hygiene/innappropriate food safety on the part of a bar/restaurant mishandling a house made infusion, that would be a legitimate consumer complaint worthy of investigation much like any other food poisoning incident would be investigated by the Department of Health. But again, did the customer throw up because they were made ill by that fresh pineapple sitting at the bottom of the sun tea jar, or did they just drink too much??
This will be a nightmare to police. Ouright banning of infusions isn't the answer. I wonder what solution will be found?