Va. eyes regulating crossover alcoholic beverage placement in stores

A pair of bills advancing in the Virginia General Assembly would require Hard Mtn Dew and similar products containing alcohol to be kept separate from their regular soft drink counterparts on store shelves. The effort would likely represent the first time a state passed a law to regulate the placement of alcoholic and nonalcoholic products carrying similar brand names or logos. Soft drink makers are increasingly entering the alcoholic beverage market with so-called crossover beverages that often mimic their legacy nonalcoholic brands. The Virginia bills, which have cleared each chamber with nearly unanimous votes, have the backing of Anheuser-Busch, Molson Coors and the Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association, whose president and CEO Phil Boykin testified in favor of the measures.