NH Growler Bill

Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, February 17, 3:00pm
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/housebillshearingdocket.aspx?lsr=681&code=2/10/2015

Expect the New Hampshire brewers who oppose this legislation to be there. NH Grocers and NH Convenience Stores support this bill.

If you want your voice heard, this may be your opportunity. Even if you just stand there with signs that say "I want growler fills"

 

If you are near Concord, the hearing is now!

 

Word is that the subcommittee suggested OTP (Ought to Pass) rather than ITL (Inexpedient to Legislate)

 

SCOTUS-style live blogging the executive hearing:

Last minute amendment: Liquor Commission requests that they only APPROVE a training program, not provide it

 

Keeping the 200 beer requirement; specifying 200 "labels" meaning registration

 

OTP with Amendment, 14-3

 

Next up: House floor vote

Find and call your Representative ... The brewers of New Hampshire are lobbying hard to keep a monopoly on growler fills. Horror stories abound of poorly filled growlers, which is odd, as right now only NH brewers may fill growlers ...

http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/wml.aspx

 

Rep Kermit Williams, HB 554 sponsor, spoke eloquently about how this is a bill for the consumer, and after passing legislation for industry over the past few years, now is the time for a bill for the consumers, who want this bill

 

[*crickets*]

 

Wednesday last week? What happened with this bill?? Anyone know the outcome?

 

Passed the House by a wide margin, on to the Senate Commerce committee.

 

I'm glad to see supporters of my bill on the forum. I think letting retailers fill growlers is good for both the small brewers and beer lovers, but some small brewers spoke against the bill in the Senate hearing. I managed to get the bill passed in the House despite the small brewers' complaints, but I'm just another constituent to the Senate. NH residents should call their Senator and ask them to support the bill.

The limitations of sanitation, number of labels, etc. were put into the bill to try to compromise with the small brewers, who argued that their product needed to be protected. But now I think they just want a monopoly on filling growlers. Monopolies always make things cost more, and in this case make it much harder to buy the products you enjoy. Tell the NH Senate you want the freedom to buy fresh beer!

 

Thanks Rep Williams! Yes, the NH brewers are trying to protect their Monopoly. Unfortunately, this is an illusion. Petitioning the General Court to protect this "monopoly" is crony capitalism. NH "craft" brewers, by their own numbers, sell less than 2% of the Craft Beer sold in New Hampshire, and have an oversized concern for both retailers selling their beer in growlers, thereby affecting their margins AND the thought of non-NH beer sold in growlers, which is competition.

The US Constitution prohibits discrimination between in-state and out-of-state businesses!

Maine beer? Vermont beer? Massachusetts beer? California beer? Bring it on. We brew with the best water on Earth, New Hampshire water, in the best state in the Union. We'll hold our beer up to anyone elses. I sure wish the other brewers in this state felt the same way.

Cheers,

The Organic Hops Farmer

 

Retail Growler laws are available in 37 states, including the backwaters of Connecticut:

http://www.brewersassociation.org/government-affairs/laws/growler-laws/

What are our large New Hampshire breweries afraid of? Why can some breweries opt-in for Vermont growler sales, but protest New Hampshire?

[these opinions are mine alone as a beer luvin' consumer of malt beverages]