Beer distributor to pay $2.6 million fine in pay-to-play case

Beer distributor to pay $2.6 million fine in pay-to-play case   Source: Boston Globe By Dan Adams March 02, 2016   The largest distributor of craft beers in Massachusetts will pay a fine of millions of dollars to avoid a 90-day suspension of its liquor license, a record-setting penalty imposed after the company was caught […]

Is It Time to End Tipping?

Is It Time to End Tipping?   Some say tipping is unfair and counterproductive. Others say servers will lose money and service will suffer without it.   Some restaurants have started to move away from tipping, with mixed results.   Source: WSJ Feb. 28, 2016   It has been the American way for more than […]

Oklahoma: Anheuser-Busch warms up to Oklahoma liquor reforms proposal

Oklahoma: Anheuser-Busch warms up to Oklahoma liquor reforms proposal   Source: News OK Brianna Bailey February 29, 2016   Anheuser-Busch has reached a deal with Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, that would allow the company to keep its distribution business in the state if the lawmaker’s proposed state question on alcohol reforms passes.   Anheuser-Busch had […]

Tennessee: Senate approves cap on liquor store owners

Tennessee: Senate approves cap on liquor store owners   Source: The Tennessean Joel Ebert February 29, 2016   State senators are moving ahead legislation that would allow grocers to prepare for wine in their stores — including a controversial new cap on liquor store owners in Tennessee — even as lawmakers in the House of […]

The Difficulty of Enforcing Fair Trade Practice Regulations

The Difficulty of Enforcing Fair Trade Practice Regulations   Source:  Public Action Management By Pamela Erickson February 2016   Recently, a major case of illegal payments was uncovered in Boston.  According to a Boston Globe article, “The owners of some of the most popular bars in Boston received tens of thousands of dollars in illegal […]

Pennsylvania: $100M in revenue boosters in Pa. Liquor Control Board’s sights

Pennsylvania: $100M in revenue boosters in Pa. Liquor Control Board’s sights   Source: Tribune BY KARI ANDREN  Feb. 25, 2016   State lawmakers grilled officials from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board on Thursday about how much more money could be wrung from the state-owned liquor system, while largely faulting themselves for not enacting laws to […]

New York: Small Beer Distributors Being Trampled by Big Box Stores

New York: Small Beer Distributors Being Trampled by Big Box Stores   Source: Small Business Trends by David William Feb 25, 2016   New York’s beer market may be large enough to accommodate all the local industry players, but the big money is going to big box stores like Costco and BJ’s at the expense […]

Washington in a liquor privatization hangover

Washington in a liquor privatization hangover   More than four years after the state stopped selling the hard stuff, clear winners and losers have emerged   Source: The Columbian By Brooks Johnson February 28, 2016   The next time you pick up a bottle of whiskey from the grocery store, thank the voice on the […]

‘Great concern’ over children’s exposure to alcohol sports sponsorship Alcohol sponsorship of sport is associated with risky drinking among school children and adult athletes, according to a report.

‘Great concern’ over children’s exposure to alcohol sports sponsorship Alcohol sponsorship of sport is associated with risky drinking among school children and adult athletes, according to a report.   BT Press Association February 25, 2016 UNITED KINGDOM – Alcohol sponsorship of sport is associated with risky drinking among school children and adult athletes, according to […]

Canada: B.C. introduces minimum pricing for alcohol

Canada: B.C. introduces minimum pricing for alcohol   Vancouver Sun By Bethany Lindsay February 25, 2016 B.C.’s new minimum price structure for alcohol is a good step toward protecting public health, but it also helps defend existing liquor stores from new competition, according to an addictions researcher.   The new rules will set minimum prices […]