Slog
News & ArtsMonday, September 20, 2010
Politics Beer Sends More Bucks to Block Booze
Posted by Dominic Holden on Mon, Sep 20, 2010 at 11:15 AM
According to recent reports from the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, the Beer Institute, a trade association of major brewers, has donated another $1 million to oppose initiatives that would let hard liquor compete with beer on grocery-store shelves. Not alone, beer and wine distributors from around the U.S. that have gotten into the game in the last couple of weeks include: $50,000 from California, $25,000 from Michigan, $10,000 apiece from Arizona and Texas, and $5,000 each from Indiana and Tennessee. This is in addition to $4 million donated last month, primarily from the national beer industry, with some help from wine wholesalers. Of that dough, the campaign has spent $3 million on disingenuous ads like this one:
The argument is that "alcohol abuse" is dangerous and that alcohol would be available at "24 hour gas stations and mini-marts." Of course, the hours of gas stations is irrelevant because the initiatives do nothing about the state's 2:00 a.m. alcohol cut-off. And before 2:00 a.m., folks could keep buying alcohol regardless of whether this initiative passes. Despite the message crafting, it's not about "alcohol" or "alcohol abuse." This campaign is first and foremost about protecting the beer industry from competition.
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http://www.washingtonbrewersguild.org/pd…
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I think the obvious solution is to end the legal sale of beer and wine AND liquor, and go back to total prohibition.
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1) Raise the tax for alcohol.
2) Raise the sales tax.
3) Raise the property tax.
4) A mix of all of the above.
I dont drink spirits, so I dont care if these laws are passed or not.
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But the money we'll lose for the local government scares the shit out of me. We're SO broke.
I'm optimistic about the idea of both passing and the legislature having to do something, but if they need a 2/3 majority to get it done, it doesn't seem reasonable to expect any sort of progressive (or even break-even) legislation making it through.
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What this means for YOU as a brewer:
I-1100 would legalize Tied-Houses moving Washington State towards the English Pub system, making it harder for small breweries to obtain handles. I-1100 allows beer and wine to be purchased on credit, creating a greater accounting burden as you track down customers with overdue balances. I-1100 legalizes Pay to Play, creating a sales system where money speaks louder than quality. I-1100 allows producers and distributors to give away free draught systems, product, mirrors, neons, store remodels, etc. Long-term affect: Those breweries not willing or able to compete with large producers’ deep pockets will be forced out of the marketplace and close their doors.
I-1100 takes away consumer choice.
The success of the craft brewing industry has been a huge success for the consumers of Washington State . Consumers have literally hundreds of choices of locally made, hand-crafted beers from across our state. I-1100 hurts consumer choice by giving volume pricing discounts to the largest companies, thereby reducing competition. Without the means to compete in the marketplace, small, neighborhood craft breweries will close and consumers will have less choice at their favorite establishments.
What this means for YOU as a brewer:
With a pay to play system, a brewery will be chosen based upon their ability to pay in goods or services instead of upon the merits of their beer. Washington state’s reputation as a destination for great craftbeer will cease to exist as more and more craft handles are replaced by big beer and breweries close their doors.
And if the revenue issue isn't decisive, I have a personal opinion about State Liquor Stores. They are quaint, and anachronistic, and I don't mind at all having to travel an extra mile or two a few times a year for a little of the hard stuff.
I'm sure the system could be improved, but initiatives written by corporations, with text tailored for their benefit over the public benefits...sorry, but that stinks.
And with virtually no possibility of the Legislature increasing alcohol taxes to begin making up the revenue losses
Please. Even Republicans love sin taxes.
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cheap skates.
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The best chance for legalization is the expansion of medical-marijuana dispensaries, as in California, which has many thousands of them.
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Given the absolute line on taxes that the current GOP has drawn, I don't think there's a chance in hell that even a liquor tax could pass the legislature.
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