A Proposed Law in This State Seeks to Stop Sale of Alcohol-Infused Foods to Minors

(Photo: Markus Spiske/Unsplash)

A new law proposed in Maryland will beg the question of whether you can have your rum cake and eat it too. The law seeks to regulate the sale of foods containing alcohol, impacting products such as rum baba and other alcohol-infused edibles.

According to Shore News Network, the proposed law would require identification for purchasing food products with an alcohol percentage higher than 0.5% ABV. Under the regulation put forward, the sale of such food items would be restricted to individuals aged 21 and over.

Food products containing alcohol have gained a lot of popularity. The types of edible booze products have gone from traditional tiramisu laden with coffee liqueur to modern Boozy ice cream shops like Tipsy Scoop popping up across the US. While some products have an age requirement for purchase, others do not. Many of the products are attractive to the youth and are present in foods like candies and desserts. 

The legislation introduces measures to control the manufacture and sale of food products with alcohol content exceeding half a percent by volume. Many food products that contain alcohol may have been cooked prior but that does not remove all traces of ethanol. After 15 minutes of cooking 40% of the alcohol could remain. Depending on the amount and which type of spirit is used the spirit would not fall under 0.5% ABV. Many spirits like rum have an alcohol percentage of 40% ABV or higher. 

Furthermore, the law would also affect the labeling of these products. The foodstuffs must indicate the prohibition of sale to those under 21 and indicate the inclusion of alcohol. If passed, the law would also require that the product discloses the percentage of alcohol by volume in the product. 

The legislation clarifies that its provisions are not intended to ban the addition of alcohol in food products, including confections and frozen desserts. Rather, it aims to ensure consumer safety and compliance with the existing alcohol regulations.

If the law is passed then anyone under the age of 21 will have a good excuse for avoiding the holiday fruit cake this year.

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