Big Changes Could Be Coming to How Alcohol is Sold in Michigan

When buying alcohol in Michigan this summer, things might look a little different at your local store, especially when it comes to where you find hard seltzers, flavored malt beverages, and other alcohol products.

Don't worry, you'll still be able to get your favorite drinks, they just might not be in the same spot you're used to finding them.

Right now, it's not uncommon to see hard seltzers, canned cocktails, and other alcoholic drinks sitting on a shelf near soda, sports drinks, or flavored waters. The packaging looks so similar that it is not hard to imagine someone grabbing the wrong thing, especially a kid.

Michigan Lawmakers Want Alcohol Placed Away from Kid-Friendly Drinks

If a new proposed law is passed, stores may have to move certain alcoholic beverages away from soda, juice, and snacks to prevent confusion, especially for younger shoppers.

So basically, the proposed law (Senate Bill 68) would change how stores in Michigan can display certain alcoholic drinks.

For example: Big stores (larger than 2,500 square feet) wouldn’t be allowed to place these alcohol products next to things like soda, juice, bottled water, candy, or kid-friendly snacks. Smaller stores would either have to follow the same rule or put up clear signs saying the product contains alcohol and is only for people 21 and older.

Right now, the bill is still in the early stages. It was introduced on February 5th and sent to a Senate committee, but it has a long way to go before becoming law. It would need to pass both the Senate and House before the governor could sign off on it. So, if this does happen, it won’t be right away.