CONTACT:
Adam Porton (630) 596-3226 (porton68@gmail.com)
MADISON – This Friday the Wisconsin Positive Business Alliance (WPBA) is hosting a Save Our Craft Beer Speak-out & Beer March starting at 5pm. This event is being organized in support of Wisconsin’s craft brewing industry.
The WPBA is organizing a speak-out on the steps of the State Capitol for those who citizens and business owners who are concerned about the proposed changes to Wisconsin’s beer regulations.
The changes are being inserted into the Wisconsin budget without a public hearing.
At 5:30 pm, supporters will march down State Street to visit local bar owners and ask them to put a paper bag reading, “Miller/Coors Smashes Local Beer” over the Miller/Coors taps.
According to the Wisconsin Brewers Guild, Wisconsin Beer brings 588,000 visitors annually, and invests millions in jobs and local communities. Local breweries purchase local grain from Wisconsin farmers, and raw materials such as; boxes, labels, cans, and glass from Wisconsin companies.
Here are the changes to Chapter 125; “Branch Legislation” that Coors corporation executives want that undermine the business model for a small brewer of today, and deeply restricts their ability to operate competitively in the State of Wisconsin:
All Wisconsin Breweries and Brewpubs will be negatively affected by losing their Wholesale and retail licenses and the benefits those licenses provide.
* Eliminates the current option of a brewer choosing to self distribute or starting a Wholesale distribution company.
* Eliminates a Brewers current right to have ownership in two restaurants.
* Protects (Grandfather Clause) currents Wholesalers retail licenses, while eliminating that benefit for new start up Wholesalers.
* Unfairly burdens new Wholesalers and breweries with a requirement of 25 separate independent retail customers before a Wholesale license can be granted.
* Eliminates the ability of Brewers to sell existing retail or wholesale operations separately from the brewing operation.
* Eliminates current Wholesale investment in privately held Wisconsin Breweries while allowing investment in out of state and foreign and publicly traded breweries.
As opposed to Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), the WPBA is an organization of business people committed to the idea that the purpose of business is to create value, provide opportunities and serve our communities.
The WPBA is working with local breweries to make sure Wisconsin leads the nation in micro brewing for years to come.
Here’s a link to the motion to change the law: http://www.tyranena.com/Motion414.pdf
