‘Beersicles’ to be allowed in restaurants, if bill passes

Bars and restaurants would be free to serve beer
popsicles and similar alcohol-spiked foods, if House Bill
1075 passes.

The bill, sponsored by Delegate Terrie L. Suit, R-Virginia
Beach, states the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage
Control cannot prohibit the sale of food products containing
alcohol as long as those products are being sold to people
older than 21.

The bill was proposed after the VABC tried to prohibit the sale
of beer popsicles at a Northern Virginia restaurant.

The “hop-sicles,” as some called them, have generated widespread
discussion, prompting videos about how to make the
popsicles to be posted on the Internet.

The VABC attempted to prohibit the sale of alcoholic foods
because it violated current laws, which state alcohol must be
served in its original container or be poured from a tap.

After the buzz, the VABC has yet to take a stance on the bill.

“We don’t have a position on it,” said Curtis Coleburn, secretary of board
members at the VABC.

The topic of beer popsicles did not generate as much hype in the General
Assembly as it did online, said Delegate Adam P. Ebbin, D-Arlington, a co-sponsor
of the bill.

“It didn’t come up in detail,” Ebbin said.

Supporters of the bill worry that a law outlawing beer pops would ban other
popular food items, such as tiramisu or rum balls.

The bill is here “to make it possible to serve desserts with alcohol in them,”
Ebbin said.

The bill was skipped this past Friday during an early morning meeting of the
Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services.

“That means that there are things that probably need to be straightened out,”
said Sandy Richards, a legislative aide who spoke on behalf of Suit.