COCKTAIL MUSEUM - The Museum of the American Cocktail opened last month in New Orleans. According to the Associated Press, the museum focuses on the history of "sophisticated drinks" that have been served since Thomas Jefferson was president. The museum is located near the French Quarter and features a collection of rare spirits, books and Prohibition-era literature. There also are vintage cocktail shakers, glassware, tools, gadgets and other cocktail memorabilia on display, according to AP.

NEW HEADQUARTERS - MillerCoors announced last month it selected Chicago as the site for its headquarters. The company, which combines the U.S. operations of SAB Miller and Molson Coors Brewing Co., decided on a neutral city to set up shop, according to the Associated Press, rather than in Miller's base of Milwaukee or Coors' home in Golden, Colo. A specific site for the new headquarters, which will house 300-400 jobs, will be chosen in the next few months, AP reported.

ALCOHOL FACTS - While waiting for the federal government to require standardized labeling information on beverage alcohol, the Consumer Federation of America has developed "Alcohol Facts," a side-by-side comparison of the alcohol, calorie and carbohydrate content per serving of the 26 top selling domestic and imported alcohol brands. To develop Alcohol Facts, CFA staff used sales data from Adams Beverage Group to identify the top selling domestic and imported liquor brands and then obtained detailed information about the alcohol content, the amount of alcohol per serving, the number of calories per serving and the carbohydrates per serving for each product. CFA has summarized its Alcohol Facts comparison chart as a wall poster, which is available as a download from www.consumerfed.org.

UNDERAGE CRACKDOWN - Rhode Island recently became the latest state to approve legislation aimed at combating underage drinking. Gov. Donald L. Carcieri last month signed a bill which enforces penalties for both minors and adults who provide alcohol to any person under 21 or who permits any person under 21 to consume alcohol on their property. In addition to enforcing more aggressive social hosting laws, the new law requires mandatory punishment for those who misrepresent their age or who are underage and possess alcohol.

Pints for Prostates - A prostate cancer awareness campaign has been launched to reach men through the universal language of beer. Pints for Prostates was launched to communicate with men in a friendly and nonthreatening way about the need for regular PSA blood testing, according to founder Rick Lyke, a 47-year-old Charlotte, N.C., marketing executive and drinks journalist who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February. Pints for Prostates is focused on reaching men during September, which is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and has gained the support of a number of beer and beverage-related publications. The campaign also is working to reach out to breweries, brewpubs and on-premises retailers for their support.

OVI LAW - California recently increased penalties for motorists convicted of alcohol-related reckless driving. Legislation signed by Gov. Arnold Swarzenegger requires that any person convicted of alcohol-related reckless driving participate in court ordered counseling and education programs for at least nine months if they have been convicted of a similar offense within the past 10 years. The new law also requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to include in the annual report to California's legislature an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program.

NRRDA FORMED - Professionals involved in risk management and legal defense pertaining to the retail and restaurant industries now have a new, nonprofit association to which to belong. Formed last month, the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association is comprised of retail and restaurant industry representatives, insurance professionals, in-house counsel, attorneys and vendors devoted to the defense of these industries. NRRDA provides educational live and Web-based seminars focusing on issues relevant to the retail and restaurant industries, and maintains a roster of attorneys and industry professionals. The organization is committed to developing strategies to reduce the number and severity of claims, managing common risks, and enhancing the defense position in litigated matters.

MILLER MESSENGERS - Miller Brewing Co. recently announced the winners of its A. Philip Randolph Miller Messenger Awards, which recognize the nation's top African American journalists and publishers. This year's winners included Helen Silvis, The Skanner; Robert Jeffrey II, The Atlanta Voice; Christine Sabathia, The Los Angeles Sentinel; and Francis Taylor, The Los Angeles Sentinel. Winners received awards totaling up to $24,000, with an additional $5,000 to benefit the National Newspaper Publishers Association.