WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents thousands of American restaurants, denounced a component of the Highway Bill which would require that all 50 states mandate ignition interlocks as punishment for low-BAC (blood alcohol concentration) first-time offenders. Ignition interlocks are in-car breathalyzers that measure a driver’s blood alcohol concentration. If a breath sample registers above a pre-set level, the engine will not start. Read the full press release »
The American Beverage Institute is up in arms after Congress released a draft of the highway bill in which the politicians in Washington are taking up the fight against drunken driving.
When Congress starts its work Wednesday on the highway reauthorization bill, it should eliminate a proposed measure that would penalize states for failing to require drunken drivers to install ignition interlock technology in their cars, even for first-time offenders.
A beverage trade organization is urging Gov. Pat Quinn to veto an alcohol tax increase currently awaiting his signature, suggesting that the tax hike could jeopardize Chicago's chance of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics.
