Friday, January 05, 2007

Alcohol regulator crosses over to industry

SACRAMENTO — California's former top alcohol regulator has taken a job advising lawyers for the industry he regulated until his retirement in August.

Jerry Jolly, a 31-year veteran of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, began work this week as a consultant to the wine, beer and spirits-industry practice of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a San Francisco law firm with offices worldwide, including Sacramento.

Watchdogs who monitor the industry called Jolly's career move common for alcohol regulators — and regrettable.

"This is the usual practice and it's really unfortunate, this revolving door between regulators and the alcohol industry," said James Mosher, director of the Center for the Study of Law and Enforcement in Felton, which tracks alcohol industry marketing and sales practices. "It certainly creates the impression that the industry has additional ways of influencing the regulators." More.

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