Bringing you up to speed on an item we covered recently.

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s chief lobbyist broke the news to public health advocates and anti-teen drinking crusaders Wednesday afternoon: The governor would sign a bill the next day ensuring that “alcopops” would continue to be taxed and distributed the same way as beer.The advocates, who had spent the past three months arguing that the bill would make it easier for teens to get fruity drinks such as Mike’s Hard Lemonade, sprang into action. Within hours, the national leader of Mothers Against Drunk Driving was on a plane from Dallas for a meeting with the governor, activists and two Marylanders whose children were killed by drunken drivers.

By the time the governor emerged, he “had a lot to think about,” he said, and he decided to shelve the bill. O’Malley said yesterday that he wanted to consider the extent to which the drinks are “gateway” alcoholic beverages for teenagers, a contention the manufacturers deny.

Read the Rest…