tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826637739916486721.post2581299820283974701..comments2023-09-19T06:58:49.690-07:00Comments on VanEast Beer Blog: Gov't Announces Liquor Law Changes That Could Benefit Craft Beer Consumers & IndustryPaddy Treavorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360223916204727525noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826637739916486721.post-47678475177323024492013-02-09T15:37:40.053-08:002013-02-09T15:37:40.053-08:00The current legislation contains three lists of pr...The current legislation contains three lists of promotion practices. The first list is stuff that's always allowed, the second list is stuff that is only allowed with a buy-sell agreement in place, and the third list is of stuff that is never allowed. I assume by the wording "removing the requirement for a buy-sell agreement" means that they're effectively combining the first and second lists.<br /><br />@bcbrews - There's no enforcement now, either. All I'm saying is that things won't get any worse. What's illegal will remain illegal, and the legal stuff might just be a little easier to do. It's more or less the status quo.<br /><br />@Paddy Of course there are loads of ways to buy taps, and people are doing that right now anyway. I doubt you'll notice the difference with this particular change. Of course, we'll have to wait and see the details of the actual legislation before we know for sure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826637739916486721.post-85948819058507510442013-02-09T14:43:55.663-08:002013-02-09T14:43:55.663-08:00and remember Ben, buying taps involves more than $...and remember Ben, buying taps involves more than $$$$s. Many things are being used as currency making it even harder to trackPaddy Treavorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16360223916204727525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826637739916486721.post-88531611145839165982013-02-09T13:37:01.830-08:002013-02-09T13:37:01.830-08:00Thanks for the comments Ben...always welcomed
You ...Thanks for the comments Ben...always welcomed<br />You can buy taps in many ways and breweries-wineries are very creative. We have yet to see the actual wording of the new policies and legislation so I may be acting as Chicken Little, but maybe not. We'll see how it all shakes out. In talking to one prominent restaurant owner, he stated he believes it really opens up the door for inducements and bribery.<br /><br />As for for the laws being unenforceable as they are now...well, they are unless you get the tax man crawling up the butts of the breweries and the licensees. <br />As in any industry, it is extremely hard to track cash kickbacks. I am dead set against bribes and against licensees demanding kickbacks, don't get me wrong. The only way it will stop is by industry enforcement and certain portions of the industry have no interest in that...and it is not just the big breweries as there as some craft breweries involved and playing the game<br /><br />That is how I see itPaddy Treavorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16360223916204727525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826637739916486721.post-87070584221028438192013-02-09T12:49:16.164-08:002013-02-09T12:49:16.164-08:00@bencoli If there is no enforcement mechanism, the...@bencoli If there is no enforcement mechanism, then it renders the regulation moot.<br /><br />I have a problem with those who say that because paying for taps and offering inducements is rampant, the regulations are unenforceable and, therefore, should be eliminated. This is utter rubbish. This government is simply not devoting any resources to enforcement because they see no problem with this. In terms of government contracts and P3s, they call this "lobbying".<br /><br />The whole point of sanctioning these practices is that they reduce fair competition. Small breweries can't compete with the war chests of the larger ones, so they get locked out of the draught market. When you have to meet a high bar to maintain a listing in the LDB stores and there's a high barrier to entry in the draught market, it's pretty tough to start a brewery with a modicum hope of success unless you have a lot of money.<br /><br />Now, however, it seems a brewery can sell direct to the public and have its own brewery tap. Will this be enough for them to grow into the more lucrative markets, or will it keep them perpetually small? It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826637739916486721.post-44069011004774141612013-02-09T11:17:27.157-08:002013-02-09T11:17:27.157-08:00Paddy, I've been thinking about this and I dis...Paddy, I've been thinking about this and I disagree with your analysis of the point about no longer needing buy-sell agreements. Under the current act, a buy-sell agreement is needed for certain kinds of promotions and tie-ins, but you are still never permitted to pay for taps, buy a customer fixtures or fittings, pay for their advertising, or even to pay for entertainment at their bar. I don't see how eliminating the need for a buy-sell agreement would change any of that. It just strips some of the bureaucracy out of the process.<br /><br />For more info on what the buy-sell agreement was for, check out this liquor board guide for brewers and agents. It starts on page 23: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb/docs-forms/guide-breweries.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com