Agency upholds beer quality-control rules
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9
By John Estus
Published: March 22, 2008
Beer distributors argued quality control versus fairness in the marketplace Friday.
In the end, the state Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission voted to keep a rule that permits strong beer manufacturers to tell distributors how to take care of their products.
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Issue remains divisive
The petitioning distributors argued it shouldn't be their responsibility to take care of the product once it's at retailers. They said their quality-control measures have worked fine for years and that no one has gotten sick because of bad beer.
ABLE Commissioner Rod Stratton boiled the issue down, saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, it's a game of money, isn't it?”
Commissioners voted 5-1 in favor of retaining the rule.
Strong beer has more alcohol in it than low-point beer, which makes up most of the Oklahoma beer market. Distributors need a special license to sell strong beer to retailers.
John Cresap, president of Premium Beers of Oklahoma, said he was pleased with the commission's ruling.
Cresap's company distributes mostly Anheuser Busch products, both low-point and strong beer. The company keeps strong beers in the same refrigerated warehouse as its low-point beer.
The worry from strong beer distributors is that companies such as Premium Beers may have a competitive edge with strong beer manufacturers because it has a refrigerated warehouse.
Letter caused concern
State law requires low-point beer be refrigerated before being sent to retailers, but it doesn't require refrigeration of strong beer.
Some state distributors grew concerned after they received a letter last year from Anheuser Busch that said if they didn't follow certain quality-control guidelines, the manufacturer wouldn't sell them some strong beer brands.
"They made it (quality-control guidelines) a condition of sale, which is contrary to Oklahoma law,” said attorney Danny Shadid, who represents Eagle Brand Beers, one of the distributors that petitioned ABLE.
Distributors who petitioned the commission said the action was about fairness in the marketplace, not quality control.
"We all believe in quality control, we practice quality control every day and we're proud of our quality control,” said J.D. Jarboe, a spokesman for International Beers, one of the distributors that petitioned the ABLE commission. "The point is: I don't want Anheuser Busch telling me how to run my business.”
Commission Chairman Desmond Sides said approving the petition to strike the rule wasn't the right way to deal with the issue because it would have sent a message that ABLE doesn't care about beer quality.
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All Stella Beer is shipped in a container to New York or Houston warm. It sets in a cool warehouse then goes on a warm truck and the Oklahoma Retailers sells it warm. All less then 3.2 beer is bought to the Beer wholesalers warm. Most are sent out warm and then the gorcey stores sell it warm. Take a look at the displays!
The only monololies are the Bud and Coors and Miller guys!
The Class B wholesalers who sell to the Retailers are not a monopoly!
Fat Tire can not come to Oklahoma:Reason they do not have enough Beer! THis is a FACT!
Last point the less then 3.2% has no law that the beer has to be CHILLED!!