Op-Eds
The Coming War on Vitamins
A consumer walking down the aisle of a local drugstore can choose from a wide variety of supplements, vitamins and nutrients for his or her…
Blog
Killed by Regulations: New Century Brewing, RIP
Add another name to the list of the dead as a result of actions taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I certainly feel a…
Blog
Alcohol Regulation Roundup: July 19, 2011
California: In an attempt to lower the rates of minors drinking alcohol, a bill is being pushed that would prevent grocery store patrons from…
Blog
Another Shot at Pennsylvania Liquor Privatization
Ah, Pennsylvania: home sweet home. The state known for its soft pretzels, Hershey’s chocolate and Sylvester Stallone statues. Unfortunately, it has also…
Op-Eds
FTC Ban on Junk Food Ads Would do More Harm than Good
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) supposedly voluntary guidelines for marketing food products to children, if adopted, would undermine free speech, seriously hinder small businesses, consumer…
Blog
Michelle Obama’s 1700 Calorie Hypocrisy
I am no fan of ad hominem attacks, especially when it’s the President and his administration that deserve true criticism for their policies. So, when…
Comment
CEI Comments to FTC Regarding the Proposed Nutritional Principles and Guidelines for Food Marketing to Children
Full Document Available in PDF The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) is non-profit organization…
Blog
Alcohol Regulation Roundup: Independence Day Edition
Hopefully, this Independence Day weekend you liberated some nice libations from their containers. As Founding Father Ben Franklin said, “there can’t be good living where…
Op-Eds
Time to Kill the Michigan Alcohol Monopoly
In the June 2011 issue of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association (MBWWA) newsletter, President Michael Lashbrook reaffirmed his organization’s endorsement of…
Blog
Improve Americans’ Physical and Fiscal Health: Cut Out the FDA
President Obama made a big show about cutting “red tape” government regulations that kill jobs and hurt the economy. In addition, members of the…
Blog
Bed Bugs Now With Super Bug: Still Just a “Nuisance,” EPA?
As my colleague Angela Logomasini noted in a post in January, the EPA has rebuffed the desperate pleas of lawmakers and residents to un-ban…
Blog
New Bill Would Tax Online Gambling
Yet another online gambling bill to add to the pile, Rep. Jim McDermott introduced the igaming taxation and regulation bill that he unsuccessfully…
Knowledge Problem
Distortionary Effects of Three-Tier Liquor Regulation, Wisconsin Edition
Blog
More States, Politicians Jump on the Internet Gambling Bandwagon
The oncoming legalization of online poker charges ahead this week with more lawmakers “seeing the light” or at least the potential revenue dollars that online…
Blog
Alcohol Regulation Roundup: June 10, 2011
Reporting from around the nation on the ridiculous, the sad, and the sometimes positive news about the state of alcohol regulations. National: BuyaBeerCompany.com, a…
Blog
Breaking Up is Hard to Do for Michigan Brewers
If you thought leaving a spouse was tough, just be thankful that you're not a brewery in need of a divorce from your dead-beat distributor.
Blog
Wisconsin Proposal Hurts Craft Beer, Protects Big Brewers
In the battle between international brewing giants SABMiller and ABInBev, Wisconsin craft brewers could bear the heaviest burden. On May 31, the state legislature’s Joint…
News Max
Insider Report
Blog
New York City Health Officials: No Fun for Adults
Last year we watched as the FDA used its regulatory might to institute a de-facto ban on alcoholic energy drinks like Four Loko, Joose,…
Blog
Alcohol Producers in Texas Must Unite For their Right to Produce
As discussed in my latest "Alcohol Regulation Roundup" post, a representative for brewing giant, Anheuser-Busch (AB-InBev) testified at a Lone Star State Senate…
Blog
Black Friday All Over Again: Feds Seize More Online Poker Domains
This week thousands of poker fans and players will gather at the Rio Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas for the much anticipated 42nd Annual…
Blog
Alcohol Regulation Roundup: May 23, 2011
Alabama: Small vineyards in Alabama support a bill that would allow them to self-distribute up to 24,000 barrels a year, allowing them to compete…
Blog
Online Poker Showdown: States Step Over Feds to Legalize iGaming
In the wake of a federal clamp-down on Internet poker, states are forging ahead with their efforts to explicitly legalize, regulate, and tax online…
Blog
Delaware to Erase a Remnant of Prohibition?
On April 6, a remarkable bill was quietly introduced in the Delaware state house. If it passes and is signed into law,…
Blog
Colorado Governor Hickenlooper Overturns Low-Alcohol Ban
Blog
Fighting for its Life: Absolute Poker Makes a Deal with Feds
In 2002, four fraternity brothers from the University of Montana founded an online gambling platform that became one of the most popular online casinos for…
News Max
Feds’ Online Poker Shutdown Assaults Internet Freedom
On April 15, a day now known as “Black Friday”, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) effectively shut down three major online poker websites by…
Blog
Alcohol Regulation Roundup: May 9, 2011
While some states seem to never change at all, this Monday's Alcohol Regulation Roundup highlights some pleasant possibilities on the horizon.
Blog
Clinic for Porn Actors Closes, AIDS Group Rejoices
After years of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation trashing them in the media, the Adult Industry Medical Foundation (aka AIM) has closed its doors for good,…
Letters
Coalition Letter to the House Judiciary Committee: Rein in the DOJ
Full Document Available in PDF Dear Member, We are a coalition of consumer advocates and free market organizations,…
News Max
DOJ’s Poker Shutdown: Holding on to Americans’ Money
While the American online poker community is still reeling from the federal government’s recent crackdown on online gambling websites, it’s worth considering the significance of…
Blog
Alcohol Regulation Roundup: April 27, 2011
National: Seventeen state attorneys general are asking Pabst Brewing Co. to lessen the alcohol content of its new “Blast” product. Blast, the 12 percent…
News Max
Obama Axes the Right to Play Internet Poker
Last week, while many people reported their income to the Internal Revenue Service, others suddenly found their source of income shut off. On a day…
Brazil Poker Pro
Internal Reasons for “Black Friday”
Free Republic
MINTON: Obama axes the right to play Internet poker
Free Republic
Online Poker Shutdown — What’s Really Behind the Department of Justice’s Decision?
April 15, which is usually Tax Day, is also a day when many Americans voice annoyance toward their government as they file their onerously confusing…
Minnesota Poker Magazine
Online Poker Shutdown—What’s really behind the Department of Justice’s Decision?
Minnesota Poker Magazine
Lower the Drinking Age for Everyone
Alaska state representative Bob Lynn (R., Anchorage) is asking the long overdue question: Why do we consider 18-year-olds old enough to join the military, to…
New York Daily Record
Online gambling laws challenged
Hot Air
It’s time to lower the drinking age
Common Wealth Magazine
The Download: Getting Bolder on the Environment
Blog
Los Angeles (City) Won’t Refuse Permits for Condomless Porn
After years of fighting and failed attempts to force Los Angeles County to require condom-usage on adult film sets, AIDS activists were finally successfully…
Blog
Alcohol Regulation Roundup: April 6, 2011
Nation: Wine shipping is once again being threatened by federal legislation threatening to overturn Supreme Court decisions that clearly made it illegal for states…
Blog
Alcohol Regulation Roundup: March 29, 2011
With April Fool's Day just around the corner, you might think that I'm pulling one over on my readers with the some of the laws…
National Geographic
Earth Hour 2011: When Is It? What’s the Point?
Despite Earth Hour's growth since its introduction in Sydney in 2007, not everyone's on board. (Related: "Earth Hour 2009: A Billion to Go Dark…
National Geographic
This Saturday Celebrate, Don’t Lament, Human Achievement
Human beings must exploit the environment. It is how we survive—and thrive. We don’t have claws or fur. We don’t live in trees or burrow…
Blog
TTB Should Allow, Not Mandate Nutritional Labels
Last month I penned an article for BigGovernment.com in which I asserted that some large alcohol producers were in favor of the nutritional label…
National Geographic
Voluntary Nutritional Labeling on Alcohol Is the Best Recipe
Last month, I discussed the negative impacts that a nutritional label mandate would have on small producers of alcohol beverages, such as craft brewers. Another side…
Blog
Alcohol Regulatory Roundup: St. Patrick’s Hangover Edition
While you guzzled green beer and nursed the subsequent hangover, politicians and other interested parties were busy creating or preventing regulatory headaches of their own.
Blog
Human Achievement of the Day: Print-on Skin
Imagine being able to simply spray new skin onto wounds, scars, or burns as if they never happened? We may be one step closer…