So ReTHUGs in Florida are out to destroy the craft beer industry in that state

[malaise]

Everything for the fugging 1%
http://tbo.com/news/politics/beer-wars-come-to-tallahassee-as-craft-brewers-fight-bill-20140421/
<snip>
What started as an effort to allow the state's beer makers to sell half-gallon jugs has morphed into all-out war between them and Florida's powerful “Big Beer” lobby of Anheuser-Busch distributors.

By a 9-4 vote, the Senate Rules committee on Monday cleared a bill that was opposed by Florida's craft brewers, dozens of whom came to Tallahassee to speak against the measure. The bill next heads to the Senate floor.

Current law allows brewers to make and sell their own beer from tasting rooms next to their brewhouses, but does not allow a 64-ounce “growler” — the glass or ceramic jugs that craft beer often is sold in after being drawn from a tap. They're legal everywhere but here, Mississippi and Idaho.

Among other provisions, the bill (SB 1714) legalizes 64-ounce growlers, but also requires brewers who produce more than 2,000 kegs worth of beer a year to sell their bottled or canned products to distributors, which they then must buy back to sell in tasting rooms.

[HooptieWagon]

1. Craft breweries have exploded in Tampa Bay area.

Very popular places, and some of the better music venues around.

[dilby]

2. Here in Oregon we have the Feds shutting down our wineries from selling wine in Growlers.

It's a shame too because this is a state that prides itself on beer, wine and being green and growlers are an amazing way to prevent glass from ending up in landfills.

[Samantha]

3. I saw that story today on the Ed Show I believe

I could not believe it. It was just presented as the bigger producers knocking off the small entrepreneurs. It is the same story every, just a different venue today.

I wonder if there is any recourse for these small brewers.... What a disgrace.

Sam

[malaise]

4. He started covering it yesterday

Did you know that Jimmy Carter was the man behind freeing up beer production.

Funny how ReTHUGs love to talk about government interference and letting small businesses thrive in peace.
It's all about kowtowing to the 1%

[Democracyinkind]

6. Exactly. They only like the big corporations that are able to make large campaign donations.

That's the kind of capitalism they love, despite all their mumbling about "small businesses". This story is just further proof.

[Samantha]

9. That is exactly what I was thinking

We hear so much about encouraging small businesses, but when someone starts one that makes a larger competitor feel threatened, the little engine that could suddenly finds salt in its gas tank.

The hypocrisy is stunning.

Sam

[MohRokTah]

5. Smart move to make the common man happy.

Only allow the absolute crappiest beer be sold freely in the state. That'll make 'em happy.

[NightWatcher]

7. They are also going after direct sales in the craft breweries

Today a brewer can make a beer and sell it direct from the tap at the brewery/tasting room. Legislatures are about to pass a law that requires the brewer to sell the beer to a distributor and then buy it back from the distributor before being allowed to sell it in the brewery/tasting room. Distributors are using their lobbyists to squeeze the small craft brewer. Many of these brewers make a good portion of their money from direct sales and this would put a middleman in the equation.

[malaise]

8. Middlemen like MFGramps wife's folks

[jmowreader]

10. The article is slightly wrong...

Growlers are definitely legal in Idaho. I can take you to at least two places within an hour's drive that have growler fill stations.