Why did this happen? Well, in a single sentence: It happened because state legislators were more interested in courting big business than serving their local breweries. Specifically, it happened to make Maryland the most attractive possible home for Diageo’s destination Guinness brewery,despite the fact that Diageo as a company has largely sided with the craft brewers against the state of Maryland. That’s right: Even though Diageo isn’t asking Maryland legislators to screw over the state’s craft brewers on their behalf, they’ve elected to do so anyway, while crafting legislation that exempts the Guinness brewery (and no one else) from additional regulation.
Enter, HB 518 and HB 1052—dueling house bills that will determine the future of the state’s brewing industry, both of which will be heard by Maryland’s House Economic Matters Committee on Feb. 23. One (HB 518) is supported by the state’s craft brewers (and apparently Diageo as well), and is aimed at loosening restrictions on beer sales, and modernizing the state’s beer laws to be similar to other states that have made craft beer into a major tourism driver. The other bill, HB 1052, is supported by the state’s most powerful alcohol distributorships, and the lobbying/campaign contribution power they wield. This is perhaps a relevant time to point out a few of the corruption scandals that have wracked Maryland’s legislative body in the last few years.
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12 comments:
I don't understand, you either cater to the big guys to bring in more jobs which hurts small businesses or you cater to the little guys and lose the big businesses.
NONE OF THIS WILL EVER HAPPEN JUST FOR LOCAL EXAMPLE EVO THEY HAVE A BIG HAND IN THE BEER INDUSTRY AND ARE EVEN SOLD IN TEXAS MONEY AND INFLUENCE TALK..... Many other companies around the area as well.
Don't ever believe anything a big company says. They lie. They will lie and claim they are on the side of competing smaller businesses but they are not and all the while their lobbyists are working behind the scenes to eliminate smaller competition. Since the advent of anti trust laws they use the over regulate out of business tactic to eliminate any and all competition.
Small businesses don't have much chance anymore of surviving between not having affordable capital and regulations that go against them.
Bigger breweries = more jobs.
I will never go through as is. No way!
You mean Maryland lawmakers doing something to demolish small businesses and show favor for one?? Say it isn’t so! This state does nothing but destroy itself i.e. Baltimore and other places on that side of the bridge and then wonder why no real business wants to move here or even stay. They let so businesses leave and close, Joe has listed many times, it’s sickening.
this is more than just Guiness - this is about BEER distributors
at a tap house THEY DONT GET their state mandated CUT, this is like prohibition all over
Drink whiskey!
In my opinion Evolution and Dogfish Head are the best on the Eastern Shore. An honorable mention is 3rd. Wave which is up and coming. Save your money from TT Brewery, owned by questionable folks and food overpriced and not consistent. Excellent meals and service at EVO and Dogfish.
They all suck as far as I am concerned. Miller Lite please.
Actually this bill would take local control away from the counties liquor boards. We don't need this. Stay away from it.
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