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The Center Square [By Jon Styf] and The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
A bill that would stop Tennessee businesses with a beer permit from the retail sale of refrigerated or cold beer has been sent to the Senate State and Local Government Committee but has yet to be assigned a date to be heard.
Republican House sponsor Ron Gant (Piperton-District 94) told the Tennessee Journal that House Bill 2845 (HB2845) is aimed at preventing drunk driving.
Gant was involved in a fatal 2022 two-car head-on crash where the other vehicle crossed the center line and hit his vehicle, killing the other driving and leading Gant to get flown by helicopter to a Memphis hospital, the Journal reported.
Gant told the Journal his goal is to create a two drink maximum for wine or mixed drinks in the state and a three-beer cap unless someone can prove they have a designated driver or alternative transportation.
The House version of the bill was marked as a caption bill with an amendment forthcoming on Feb. 5 and has not been assigned to committee.
The General Assembly website lists fellow Republican Representatives Bulso, Russell, Fritts, Grills, Travis, Hicks T, Lynn, Moody, Hale, Cepicky, Baum, Vital, Ragan, Hulsey, White, Carr, Davis as co-sponsors of Gant’s bill.
Republican Senator Paul Rose (R-Lauderdale, Shelby and Tipton Counties-District 32) is the Senate sponsor with SB2636.
About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.