Oklahoma native battles to merge beer, God, country

But the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau won't sanction the label design, citing a federal statute prohibiting labels with images and statements relating to the American flag.

“The Pledge of Allegiance is the official pledge to the flag by an act of Congress,” states the agency's Sept. 24 denial. “Delete this text.”

Sessions says he won't change the label and if appeals to the agency fail, he'll file a lawsuit demanding his First Amendment rights.

“I'm losing money, that's why I'm suing,” he said. “I'm going to spend every nickel I got on this deal.”

Sessions, 75, is a native of Ripley who now lives in Los Angeles. He has a warehouse near downtown Oklahoma City for his energy drinks, which are sold in 42 states.

Sessions said he got the idea for a beer when a National Guard member told him, “We drink one energy drink but we'd drink a six-pack of beer.”

The pledge is important to the beer can label because it honors the nation and military, but also stresses the words “Under God,” he said.

“I'm a Christian,” Sessions said. “I want to put God in every bar in the country. God is already in the churches. Why not the bars?”