Mellow Mushroom Owner supports Craft Beers in a big way.

[Shwaz]

Shwaz, though you may not have intended it, asking "is this legislature 'that toxic' for the craft breweries?"—with scare quotes wrapped around "that toxic!" no less!—suggests you think a good argument can be made in forcing small-business owners to give handouts to bigger businesses because...that's the way things are done. No one who is for this legislation has put forth a better argument than that. Because they can't.

I don't doubt your sincerity about being against it, but if you are imprecise in your phrasing, you must expect the kind of response you have so far received.

The only argument I see is that it wouldn't be as detrimental to the craft breweries as portrayed by some of the comments floating around. It's always seemed like to me that the goal of a craft brewer, from a business stand point is to distribute as much beer as possible. And that the distributers provide a service in where they can help sell your brand and in turn get you out on more shelves & taverns.

Is the distributer a necessary evil? I don't think so. I believe all of breweries in Jax would have no problem what-so-ever selling their products to any outlet nationwide.

As for the negative responses to my curiosity... luckily I'm not that sensitive 

[vicupstate]

Money is nice, but goal #1 is always winning the next election cycle, and no individual donor is worth getting the boot.

My dollar bet: They'll wait on this until media attention dies down, and then try and sneak it through next session.

Last year the NC legislature passed MANY very controversial bills, that were very unpopular and heavily editorialized against in the media.

But Art Pope paid good money for those legislation, so they got passed.   In a one party state, like FL and NC, the districts are gerrymandered to such an extent that retribution at the polls is unlikely.  Retribution from Art Pope, however is certain if you don't tow the line.   

You're right about the bet though.

[mbwright]

Distributors should not be paid for doing nothing.  If they actually distributed craft beer, it would be a different story.  Usually they have a minimum number of bottles, or cases, which a small brewery or winery would never come close.  There are many laws since prohibition, not all of them valid.

[Intuition Ale Works]

Shwaz, though you may not have intended it, asking "is this legislature 'that toxic' for the craft breweries?"—with scare quotes wrapped around "that toxic!" no less!—suggests you think a good argument can be made in forcing small-business owners to give handouts to bigger businesses because...that's the way things are done. No one who is for this legislation has put forth a better argument than that. Because they can't.

I don't doubt your sincerity about being against it, but if you are imprecise in your phrasing, you must expect the kind of response you have so far received.

The only argument I see is that it wouldn't be as detrimental to the craft breweries as portrayed by some of the comments floating around. It's always seemed like to me that the goal of a craft brewer, from a business stand point is to distribute as much beer as possible. And that the distributers provide a service in where they can help sell your brand and in turn get you out on more shelves & taverns.

Is the distributer a necessary evil? I don't think so. I believe all of breweries in Jax would have no problem what-so-ever selling their products to any outlet nationwide.

As for the negative responses to my curiosity... luckily I'm not that sensitive 

Please take my word for it that it is very detrimental to our industry. It would cost us many thousand dollars in revenue.

Joe Redner, the founder of Cigar City, estimates it would cost him $175,000.

http://blogs.orlandoweekly.com/salivation-army/orlando-craft-beer-wmfe/

[coredumped]

This is what happens when you get "bigger government." Remember this when you vote and think it's a good idea to have the gov. involved in every aspect of our lives.

[JayBird]

I'm completely naive on this whole subject, but couldn't a few local craft brewers get together and form their own distributor company/co-op to both market their products and skirt the legal requirements?

[Cheshire Cat]

Shwaz, though you may not have intended it, asking "is this legislature 'that toxic' for the craft breweries?"—with scare quotes wrapped around "that toxic!" no less!—suggests you think a good argument can be made in forcing small-business owners to give handouts to bigger businesses because...that's the way things are done. No one who is for this legislation has put forth a better argument than that. Because they can't.

I don't doubt your sincerity about being against it, but if you are imprecise in your phrasing, you must expect the kind of response you have so far received.

The only argument I see is that it wouldn't be as detrimental to the craft breweries as portrayed by some of the comments floating around. It's always seemed like to me that the goal of a craft brewer, from a business stand point is to distribute as much beer as possible. And that the distributers provide a service in where they can help sell your brand and in turn get you out on more shelves & taverns.

Is the distributer a necessary evil? I don't think so. I believe all of breweries in Jax would have no problem what-so-ever selling their products to any outlet nationwide.

As for the negative responses to my curiosity... luckily I'm not that sensitive 

Please take my word for it that it is very detrimental to our industry. It would cost us many thousand dollars in revenue.

Joe Redner, the founder of Cigar City, estimates it would cost him $175,000.

http://blogs.orlandoweekly.com/salivation-army/orlando-craft-beer-wmfe/

I have no problem taking your word for it Ben.  This is your life, if anyone knows the impact you do.

[Badfinger]

Ben:

Could you please let us know who the lobbyest or lobbyests were who convinced the craft brewers that this was a fight that they could win?

I'd like to avoid them.

[mbwright]

Tri-Eagle Sales (Bud distributor in Tallahassee) for one.  Their lobbyist wrote the damn thing.  He's got buddies in high places.   I am sure there are many more.
This started under the guise of lets allow 64 oz growlers.  It should be a very simple, yes or no vote.  Instead, it has  morphed into a horrible bill, that appears to be moving forward.

[mtraininjax]

I am sure there are many more. This started under the guise of lets allow 64 oz growlers.  It should be a very simple, yes or no vote.  Instead, it has  morphed into a horrible bill, that appears to be moving forward.

Yup, I enjoy what Intuition has created, enjoy what the Miller family has created with Bold City, but Craft Beers poked the bear too much (originally they only wanted the half gallon growler added as OK, since 47 of 50 states allow this size) and this is the distributor's iron fist coming down, quid pro quo. I still think this is a 15 round fight, with us still in round 1. If nothing, this should educate the craft industry that it needs to build a better lobbying arm and contribute more towards influencing their business.

An amendment Monday by Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, redefined the already contentious proposal by allowing existing breweries that annually make fewer than 2,000 kegs of beer, about 31,000 gallons, to sell their beer directly in cans or bottles. But to keep the exemption, the business must maintain production below that level.

Those who voted for the bill in its two committee stops have received a total of $51,500 from the beer distributing industry, while those voting for craft breweries have received only $2,000.

It will be interesting to see what the craft beer industry does new or differently as a result of what happens in Tallahassee. Again, round 1 may be coming to a close, but this is going to be a long fight!

[JeffreyS]

Ed Schultz picked up the story.
http://egbertowillies.com/2014/04/27/ed-schultz-sbl-1714-kill-small-business/