McAuliffe spikes bill to OK sale of alcohol like Everclear

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed a bill that would allow drinks with high alcohol content like Everclear to be sold at state-owned liquor stores.

The Democratic governor had initially proposed delaying the bill that would allow the sale of Everclear and other high-proof grain alcohol. But that effort was rejected by the GOP-controlled House of Delegates.

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McAuliffe said in his veto message Monday that he's concerned about the impact the bill could have on binge drinking on college campuses.

McAuliffe says he thinks the state needs to study the issue further before passing the law. He says he directed the secretaries of Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Homeland Security to come up with ideas for how to sell high-proof alcohol responsibly.

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