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Girl Scouts help score victory against alcopops

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Contributed by: Kimberlie Nitti on 10/19/2007

The California Board of Equalization (BOE) recently voted to reclassify "alcopops" as distilled spirits, rather than as beer. The decision is a major victory for the Girl Scout Councils of California, a leading member of the California Coalition on Youth and Alcopops.

This issue resonates strongly with Girl Scouts for a number of reasons. Alcopops are sweet, fruity alcoholic beverages - such as Smirnoff Ice, Seagram's Coolers, and Mike's Hard Lemonade -- that are primarily marketed to and consumed by girls under the age of 18.

The packaging and labeling of alcopops can be very misleading, not only to minors, but to adult consumers as well, who might inadvertently supply an underage drinker with an alcoholic beverage that looks much like a soda or energy drink.

San Fernando Valley Girl Scout Kelcey Soderstrom, a Burbank High School student, actively lobbied against alcopops at Girl Scout Advocacy Day last March in Sacramento.

Along with other girl representatives from Girl Scout troops throughout the state, Kelcey testified on the alcopops issue before the BOE and participated in various press events related to the controversial beverage.

"As the sole representative from the San Fernando Valley, I had a unique opportunity to be a citizen advocate, lobbying elected officials on bills that affect the health of girls like me," Kelcey said. "Hopefully, the alcopops legislation that we lobbied for, which will reclassify the drinks and increase the taxes paid on them, will be approved."

Participating in Girl Scout Advocacy Day workshops also gave Kelcey a chance to learn about various government-related careers, how advocacy works, how bills become law, and how to speak to lawmakers.

"I spent the last day at the State Capitol meeting with the office of San Fernando Valley Assembly Members Audra Strickland and Lloyd Levine," she says. "I learned a lot about how legislation works, and that not all issues are as simple as they first might seem."

California is only the second state, after Maine, to reclassify alcopops as distilled spirits, but other states are now considering similar legislation.

After a 45-day comment period, the BOE is scheduled to take a final vote on the reclassification on Nov. 14.

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