Comments on: Have another stiff one Guvnuh http://grizzlygrowler.com/2008/03/31/have-another-stiff-one-guvnuh/ Craft Beer... Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:15:33 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Shawn http://grizzlygrowler.com/2008/03/31/have-another-stiff-one-guvnuh/comment-page-1/#comment-1221 Shawn Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:27:09 +0000 http://grizzlygrowler.com/?p=217#comment-1221 Remember the spirit of Sam Adams. Both the brewery and the guy. Both risked everything to bring us freedom. Sam Adams (the guy) risked his life, Jim Koch (the brewery founder) risked everything he owned. Montana could do a lot better in preserving the ideals that made this country great--at least when it comes to beer laws. Remember the spirit of Sam Adams. Both the brewery and the guy. Both risked everything to bring us freedom. Sam Adams (the guy) risked his life, Jim Koch (the brewery founder) risked everything he owned. Montana could do a lot better in preserving the ideals that made this country great–at least when it comes to beer laws.

]]> By: Dan Leithauser http://grizzlygrowler.com/2008/03/31/have-another-stiff-one-guvnuh/comment-page-1/#comment-1216 Dan Leithauser Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:54:19 +0000 http://grizzlygrowler.com/?p=217#comment-1216 The state regulates and creates revenue through this lottery distributed license. Does the state benefit? Do the people of Montana benefit? Since when does a regulatory and revenue instrument issued by the state become a profit tool for private individuals and businesses? Who benefits? Is Montana known as a state of liberty, freedom, and free market? Not with these restrictive business practices. I am sensitive to those that already have capital invested in these licenses, but sorry, a state issued instrument should never have been allowed to make profit for a few people protecting their own interests. Maybe this is the new America, but it is not what America was founded on. Free market and opportunity. Competition. That is what Montana should stand up for. Get rid of the lottery. Let anyone or any business jumping over the proper regulatory hurdles have a license. Get rid of the restricted supply and see how long this artificial market takes to collapse. Watch how new local (and others) open up new venues and compete openly for customers. The state regulates and creates revenue through this lottery distributed license. Does the state benefit? Do the people of Montana benefit?

Since when does a regulatory and revenue instrument issued by the state become a profit tool for private individuals and businesses? Who benefits?

Is Montana known as a state of liberty, freedom, and free market? Not with these restrictive business practices. I am sensitive to those that already have capital invested in these licenses, but sorry, a state issued instrument should never have been allowed to make profit for a few people protecting their own interests. Maybe this is the new America, but it is not what America was founded on. Free market and opportunity. Competition. That is what Montana should stand up for.

Get rid of the lottery. Let anyone or any business jumping over the proper regulatory hurdles have a license. Get rid of the restricted supply and see how long this artificial market takes to collapse. Watch how new local (and others) open up new venues and compete openly for customers.

]]> By: Norman Mahn http://grizzlygrowler.com/2008/03/31/have-another-stiff-one-guvnuh/comment-page-1/#comment-1208 Norman Mahn Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:45:58 +0000 http://grizzlygrowler.com/?p=217#comment-1208 It is simple protectionism on the part of tavern owners. I don't blame them for trying to protect the value of a license they paid a lot of money for. The reality is that almost any business is naturally going to prefer less competition and do what they can to preserve the value of assets. Unfortunately, many will resort to the black art of politics to prevent harder working, more creative and talented people from challenging them in the marketplace (not specifically referring to tavern owners here--don't want to get shot by my bartender who works damned hard). The problem with the situation we have in Montana is that the consumer's best interests don't have any influence on the policy discussion when it comes to brewpubs. Most consumers don't know how the system works so they just gripe about "Why doesn't anybody open a brewpub around here?" The only way to change that is by consumers (us) spreading the word and bugging the heck out of our local politicians to get these laws changed. If you don’t like the current system and you haven’t asked your state legislator to change it, you have no one to blame but yourself. BTW - Monday April 7th is the 75th Anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition. I can't think of a better date to launch the campaign. It is simple protectionism on the part of tavern owners. I don’t blame them for trying to protect the value of a license they paid a lot of money for. The reality is that almost any business is naturally going to prefer less competition and do what they can to preserve the value of assets.

Unfortunately, many will resort to the black art of politics to prevent harder working, more creative and talented people from challenging them in the marketplace (not specifically referring to tavern owners here–don’t want to get shot by my bartender who works damned hard). The problem with the situation we have in Montana is that the consumer’s best interests don’t have any influence on the policy discussion when it comes to brewpubs. Most consumers don’t know how the system works so they just gripe about “Why doesn’t anybody open a brewpub around here?” The only way to change that is by consumers (us) spreading the word and bugging the heck out of our local politicians to get these laws changed.

If you don’t like the current system and you haven’t asked your state legislator to change it, you have no one to blame but yourself.

BTW – Monday April 7th is the 75th Anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition. I can’t think of a better date to launch the campaign.

]]> By: Slats http://grizzlygrowler.com/2008/03/31/have-another-stiff-one-guvnuh/comment-page-1/#comment-1197 Slats Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:31:59 +0000 http://grizzlygrowler.com/?p=217#comment-1197 Teaching our youth responsible drinking is a big part of why I agree with Lew that we need to lower the drinking age to 18 http://www.lewbryson.com/legalat18.htm That gives dads some time to pass on the appreciation of beer before college. I wish more BrewPubs and beer bars served hand crafted soda as well, my preggers wife would feel less left out :) Teaching our youth responsible drinking is a big part of why I agree with Lew that we need to lower the drinking age to 18 http://www.lewbryson.com/legalat18.htm That gives dads some time to pass on the appreciation of beer before college.

I wish more BrewPubs and beer bars served hand crafted soda as well, my preggers wife would feel less left out :)

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