I do hope this Squarebanksian loses his bet soon.. (Fairbanks: hotel, job)

[User 2]

...just so he can get back to providing us with more examples of his utterly inapt/inept aequivocus.

KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Can Jay Ramras keep a lid on it?

Ramras is such an entertaining politician at times,

....other times he's just repugnant,

......he's actually currently pushing a new Alaska state law just so he can take home his half-drunk bottles from his trips to the restaurant.

Just what we need, a law to make it legal to have half drunk bottles of booze in the car with you.

What's to stop someone from popping the cork and putting it back?

That can be overcome, there's not a way to stop it. And even if there were, do we really need to have a law putting more booze in the car? If that half drunk bottle is in the car, the odds it will get tapped are that much higher.

It's a dumb law, ......self-serving, no doubt, ...but stoopid policy.

This thing actually passed the House.... and this Repugnant sponsor actually has the nerve to call it an 'additional tool' to curb DUI's by allowing the consumer to purchase and enjoy a bottle of wine with their dinner, and not overindulge simply because of economics.

That's a stretch, ....if you can't help yourself from 'over-indulging', it isn't 'economics' that makes you guzzle too much.

This cheapskate just wants to buy his booze in bulk, and save some bucks,

....it's just a bonus to make it legal to have a way around the open container law.......

It's House Bill 51
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[coffeehound]

I guess I don't think it's that big a deal. Problem drinkers are problem drinkers regardless of what the law says, eh?

He's right-- some losers will down the whole bottle and then drive home with a bellyful to avoid "wasting" the booze... but if you sidestep the open-container law, some other losers will swig Jack all the way back.

I'm sure Ramras does see the law as benefitting the "hospitality industry," though. The beer's the only thing worth consuming at the Food Factory.

[Barkingowl]

I hope someone added a rider to the bill for mouthwash.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by coffeehound

I guess I don't think it's that big a deal. Problem drinkers are problem drinkers regardless of what the law says, eh?

He's right-- some losers will down the whole bottle and then drive home with a bellyful to avoid "wasting" the booze... but if you sidestep the open-container law, some other losers will swig Jack all the way back.

I'm sure Ramras does see the law as benefitting the "hospitality industry," though. The beer's the only thing worth consuming at the Food Factory.

I agree with you on this. It's the job of legislators in Juneau to discuss and decide what to do. That's one of the reasons we elect them for. We only know of those who drive with opened alcoholic containers when they get caught. It means that I can only assume that those not being caught are innocent. The law already covers driving under the influence, regardless if there is an open container (with a broken seal) or not. So, lest say that a person drinks at the restaurant, and then brings the opened bottle of wine to the car and drives away. In this case, driving under the influence should be the crime, not the fact that there is a half-consumed bottle of wine in the car.

But then, to me it makes no difference. I never drink and drive, since I have a CDL. I am certain that the legislators will decide.

[User 2]

Originally Posted by coffeehound

I'm sure Ramras does see the law as benefitting the "hospitality industry," though.

Odds are the 'hospitality industry' both worked on the legislation and probably make up a fair portion of Ramras donations....

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[User 2]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

It's the job of legislators in Juneau to discuss and decide what to do. That's one of the reasons we elect them for.

We might 'elect' them to represent us, but too often, once elected they forget what interests they were elected to serve.

It's our job to keep on them when they 'forget' to serve our interests,

..our responsibility isn't over just because we cast a vote.

Originally Posted by RayinAK

In this case, driving under the influence should be the crime, not the fact that there is a half-consumed bottle of wine in the car.

Except we have a law against open containers now, and that was enacted for exactly the same intent as I mentioned above. This is not just a new law without consequences, it also weakens a previous law.

As with most of what goes on in Juneau, most folks have no idea this is moving through the legislature...

Originally Posted by RayinAK

I am certain that the legislators will decide.

Oh, they will decide,

......like when they decide to accept bribes, pass raises for themselves, while raising your costs, and giving away our collectively owned resources.

Yep, they'll decide, ....but they'd decide in our favor more often if we reminded them more often about who they are supposed to serve.
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[rotorhead]

If you can believe it, drive-up liquor stores were perfectly legal in New Mexico untill just a couple years ago. And they wondered why they had such a problem with DWIs.

So, this guy from Fairbanks has never heard of buying wine by the glass at a restaurant? Sure it cost a bit more, but you don't have to worry about finishing it off in one sitting that way.

The whole thing is a transparently obvious shill for the restaurant industry, who want to sell more high-profit alcohol regardless of the societal cost.

[User 2]

Quote by Jay Ramras:

“Fairbanks has rewarded my hard work with success in the hotel and restaurant business for almost 20 years, and now I am returning the favor by going to work on your behalf in Juneau. I have the energy and the real-life experience to get things done and am honored to represent you in the legislature."

Shorter Jay Ramras:

I made my bones in the hotel and restaurant rackets,

.....and now it's time I gave back......

When he says 'you' and 'your', he doesn't mean you or yours......
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[Metlakatla]

So, this guy from Fairbanks has never heard of buying wine by the glass at a restaurant? Sure it cost a bit more, but you don't have to worry about finishing it off in one sitting that way.

Unfortunately, wine by the glass in most restaurants isn't offered for every bottle. Sometimes the only kind you can get by the glass is Sutter Home or some such horror while the better wines are offered by the bottle only.

In Oregon, you can take a bottle of wine out from a restaurant, but it needs to be stored in your vehicle in a place where you don't have easy access to it. It's kind of an iffy little law.

What's to stop someone from popping the cork and putting it back?

The hospitality industry could easily provide little bags with some kind of closure on them, but that would just be using more paper or plastic.

Just stick the bottle in the trunk, what the hell.

[coffeehound]

Originally Posted by User 2

Quote by Jay Ramras:



Shorter Jay Ramras:

I made my bones in the hotel and restaurant rackets,

.....and now it's time I gave back......

When he says 'you' and 'your', he doesn't mean you or yours......
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Well, the hospitality biz IS big business in Fairbanks, so I guess I don't find it reprehensible that he would seek the endorsement and support of people who earn their livelihood there. I'm not all about shilling out for big corps, either, but you gotta earn your bread somewhere, don't you?

Anyway, it seems like a reasonable law to me, as I think about it. If you're buying wine-by-the-bottle to enjoy in a restaurant, you're already paying a pretty penny for it compared to regular retail... is it so awful to want to take the rest of it home?

(and DOES the open container law apply to the trunk? If it does, I'm probably in trouble. LOL!)