Wilson OKs Special Sea World Booze Bill

SACRAMENTO — Acknowledging that his action may affect his own financial portfolio, Gov. Pete Wilson on Monday signed into law an exemption allowing Anheuser-Busch to sell hard liquor at its Sea World park in San Diego.

The St. Louis-based beer giant asked for the exemption because state “tied-house” laws prohibit any liquor manufacturer from selling alcoholic beverages at retail outlets.

Anheuser-Busch was able to get around most of the restrictions by building a demonstration brewery at the park, but the company said its inability to sell mixed drinks has dried up half of the demand by convention groups to book the marine world park after hours.

Alcohol policy groups, PTA groups and Common Cause opposed the exemption because they said it was an example of a special interest getting its way from lawmakers, to whom Anheuser-Busch has donated $480,000 over the past five years.

The beer company has donated no money to Wilson, but the governor’s most recent financial disclosure forms show he has owned more than $100,000 worth of Anheuser-Busch stock in a blind trust under the control of San Diego attorney John G. Davies.

A Wilson spokesman said some of the stock has been sold, but the governor doesn’t know how much, if any, still remains in the trust.

In signing the measure Monday, Wilson released an unusual message that said he was “informed the bill may, among other things, impact a financial interest which I have fully and publicly disclosed.”

But he added that he is excused from conflict-of-interest prohibitions because he is “legally required to make a decision” on every bill that passes the Legislature.