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High-alcohol beer proposal to resurface
The proposal to allow high-alcohol beer sales in Ohio isn't dead after all. State Rep. Dan Ramos, D-Lorain, is working on legislation that would increase the legal limit for beer from 12 percent to 21 percent. He said he would introduce the proposal soon. "It’s not just good for beer drinkers and brewers and good for commerce and jobs, it's lessening government regulations at its core," Ramos said. "With that idea and intent, I think we should be able to get some bipartisan support." Ohio's craft brewing industry continues to grow and several of those brewers, including the well-respected Hoppin' Frog Brewery in Akron, are interested in making niche, higher alcohol beers that are now barred from the state. To recap the issue, the new state budget bill included a provision that would have increased the limit to 18 percent. But the provision got yanked at the last minute for some unknown reason. The lawmakers who did the yanking haven't returned phone calls. Even Ramos said he's trying to figure out why because he needs to know what sort of opposition his proposal will face. "Somebody must not like it and I want to know who and why," he said. Ramos pointed out that he was working on his legislation well before the budget bill, but held off introducing his proposal because he thought it would be approved with the budget. He said he opted for the 21 percent limit because that's the limit permitted for alcohol to be sold at grocery stores and other retailers in Ohio. He added that he's not opposed to having no limit at all as many other states do, but he thought that would lead to a lengthy discussion about overhauling the state's liquor laws and slow down the process.

