Everclear jumps to 86th on state liquor list

The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Commission will hold a public forum on the possible ban or restriction on Everclear at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at Drake University in Des Moines. In the meantime, state officials are collecting feedback on the Alcoholic Beverages Division

Web site.  Feedback as of this afternoon was running about 60 posts against the ban of Everclear, and about 20 posts in favor of a ban. The issue is on the table in the wake of a hazing incident in November at Drake, where a student landed in the emergency room with a blood-alcohol content of almost 0.50. Everclear, a 151-proof neutral grain spirit nearly double the potency of standard vodka, last month ranked 95th on the state's "Hot 100" list of most-sold liquors, but has vaulted to 86th on the Hot 100 list since discussion of a possible ban started.