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Legislators in Tennessee seem to be pushing the public’s tolerance to its limit with a proposed law that would prohibit the sale of cold beer (chilled beer) at retail outlets. This act is seen as an affront to the freedoms enjoyed by every Tennessee resident.

On January 31st, two politicians from Tennessee, Representative Ron Gant and Senator Paul Rose, both Republicans, put forward the contentious bill. When the public became aware of this proposal, there was widespread confusion and disappointment, with people questioning the motive behind such a universally disliked suggestion.

The bill communicates its objective clearly within its title. Known as Senate Bill 2636, or ‘The Tennessee Prevention of Drunk Driving Act’, its objective is to decrease the incidence of DUIs/DWIs in the Volunteer State.

Rep. Ron Gant has already co-sponsored 5 other bills targeted at reducing DUIs in Tennessee and last year, Senator Paul Rose sponsored a bill which “aimed to lower the threshold for enhancing the minimum sentence of a person convicted of driving under the influence” according to The Tennesseean. So these two have been earnestly active in the fight to reduce DUIs but this is… a horrible idea.

This seems unlikely to pass. The bill itself was written broadly and it hasn’t advanced to a hearing date since it was filed last month.

However, the bill might already have had some intended consequences. If the purpose of the bill is to reduce DUIs that starts with education and awareness about DUI prevention and safe driving.

This story has been picked up by news outlets across the United States as everyone from coast to coast is flabbergasted by the hubris of politicians who think banning cold beer sales is (1) feasible, (2) something the public would accept, and (3) would actually reduce DUIs at all.

Starting, there is no existing information that suggests the beer’s temperature at the time of purchase impacts a person’s decision to drive under the influence. Logic would indicate that if an individual is thoughtless and irresponsible enough to drink and drive, the beer’s temperature likely won’t impact their decision.

Gant informed journalists, “if you observe the roadside across our state, you’ll find beer cans. That serves as proof that people are drinking and driving. They’re obtaining that beer, that alcohol from the convenience stores.” Gant was admitted to the ICU for several weeks in 2022 after a drunk driver hit him, making this matter deeply personal to him.

Furthermore, he aims to reduce the number of drinks bars or eateries can serve customers. However, this is a highly contentious issue. For one thing, the rate at which alcohol is metabolized differs greatly among individuals. For instance, a person weighing 300 pounds will obviously metabolize alcohol differently than someone who weighs 110 pounds.

Setting a universal limit on the ‘number of drinks per person’ is not effective for a plethora of reasons. This could lead to a situation where restaurant staff and bartenders decide whether a patron is ‘safe’ or ‘over-served’. The responsibility then shifts to the bartender serving drinks or the restaurant owner who isn’t even present that night. It simply does not work.

From a standpoint of practicality, beer cannot be left unchilled or it will spoil. According to Binwise, the storage of beer follows the 3-30-300 day rule:

Is it conceivable that the FDA would permit this to occur? Given the significant risk it would pose to consumers if suddenly shelves were stocked with stale beer, this seems improbable.

The story has been covered by local media outlets:

As more people in Tennessee become aware of this legislation, it appears increasingly unlikely to pass. The prohibition of cold beer in Tennessee could result in many lawmakers losing their positions.

In the meantime, Tennesseans who wish to continue enjoying the superior state of Tennessee selling chilling beers need to get up and battle for their party rights. This starts with spreading this news (this article) extensively.