Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Righteous Indignation

This has nothing to do with pottery, but it does have something to do with small businesses, which should be of some interest to most potters. Sunday, while perusing the newspaper, I came across this article. As a proponent of small business and as a hobby beer brewer, I was aghast at AB/InBev's audacity. For those of you who don't feel like reading the article, here is a quick recap. Anheuser-Busch/InBev is suing the Illinois Liquor Control Commission because, as an out of state producer, they are not allowed to be a distributor in Illinois. Illinois breweries, though, can self-distribute within the state. They (AB/InBev) are claiming that small, independent breweries who self-distribute have an unfair advantage.
Really?! Are you serious?! The largest brewing company in the world, with a net income of $4.6 billion, is worried about an independent brewery with a distribution range of 60 miles?!

I have not bought much AB product since InBev took over. Partly because I prefer craft brews and partly because August Busch IV selling out really cheesed me off. Occasionally I would pick up a case of Busch...but I'm pretty sure that is done after these antics. I find it hard to support a company who is working to hold back independent businesses because they are not satisfied with billions of dollars in profit. Bloody savages.

-Rob

2 comments:

  1. hey rob, i'm with you but in a corporatocracy, this is always the case. wait and see how well BP recovers from it's current troubles, no pun intended. fortunately, i've gotten to a point in my life where i don't drink their "beer" any more.

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