A bill eliminating Ohio’s alcohol limit for beer is on its way to Gov. John Kasich.
Currently, beer brewed and sold in Ohio is limited to 12 percent alcohol by volume, a number breweries and craft brewers have lobbied lawmakers to raise for years. Language removing that cap was added last week to House Bill 37, which allows market shoppers to drink beer and wine.
The Ohio House on Wednesday approved the revised bill in a 92-3 vote. The bill unanimously approved the bill and it now goes to Kasich for his signature. A Kasich spokesman said Wednesday the governor has not yet reviewed the legislation.
Rep. Mike Duffey, a Columbus-area Republican who sponsored the bill, said the change will help local businesses.
“Laugh if you will but craft beer is considered to be an art form,” Duffey said, including “high-gravity” beers with more than 13 percent alcohol by volume.
The bill requires all beer packaging to label the alcohol percentage and beer greater than 12 percent alcohol by volume would also be labeled “high alcohol beer.”
Rep. Dan Ramos, a Lorain Democrat, has introduced several bills raising the cap, which was raised from 6 to 12 percent in 2002. Ramos pointed to Ohio’s alcohol limits as a reason Stone Brewing chose to expand in Virginia instead of Ohio.
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