Missouri: Legislature sends governor bill allowing breweries to lease coolers to retailers

Source: STLtoday.com
May 12, 2016

A bill to let Anheuser-Busch InBev and other breweries lease coolers to retail stores as a way to promote their brands was passed Thursday by the Missouri House and sent to Gov. Jay Nixon.

The measure, which backers say also would help retailers, cleared the House on a 94-59 vote.

It’s part of a package of changes to Missouri alcohol laws. Some other provisions would make it easier to buy large containers of beer – known as “growlers” – at convenience stores and other outlets and allow customers of wineries and restaurants to self-dispense up to 32 ounces of wine. Table-top dispensing of beer already is allowed.

Opponents of the cooler provision complain that it is aimed at helping the big beer companies regain market share lost to the growth of smaller craft brewers.

Supporters say retailers could load the portable coolers with any kind of beer. Opponents contend that it is doubtful a retailer would stock, for example, a Budweiser-labeled cooler with craft brews.