Although many spirits-based ready-to-drink cocktails have the same or lower alcohol-by-volume (ABV) than their beer- and wine-based counterparts, they are prohibited from being sold in grocery and convenience stores alongside those products.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. urged the Alabama legislature to abolish that distinction.

“In Alabama, beer and wine ready-to-drink products can be sold in four times the amount of stores than spirits RTDs despite the fact that these products have the exact same alcohol content,” said Amy Whited, vp-state public policy at DISCUS. “This bill will ensure a level playing field for consumers and give them equal access to low-ABV beverages regardless of the source of the alcohol.The majority of states allow spirits ready-to-drink cocktails to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.  There is no reason Alabama shouldn’t be one of them.”

In Alabama, beer- and wine-based RTDs can be sold in more than 4,600 locations, including grocery and convenience stores. Meanwhile, spirits RTDs with the same or lower amounts of alcohol can only be sold in 980 locations.