Fellow Maine Publican's and retailer's. If you are having difficulty getting beer that other bars/store's are carrying due to importer and or distributors, please send me a message or give me a call at the pub. Legal action is coming, because Maine's laws require a level playing field. Don't let distributors give you the run around anymore. We have the power. Maine Code Page 4, line 1: No holder of a Certificate of Approval shall offer to a wholesaler any brand that would by nature of its label be handled by a single licensee or a restricted group of licensees. All such brands approved for sale must be available to all retail licensees for resale to the consuming public. In instances wherein the affected wholesaler has a brand on allocation, all retail licensees shall be allowed, on a percentage basis, to purchase the allocated brand. Give me a call folks, ask for Chris 2079253200. In Maine, we DESERVE a level playing field, and that's the law.
This is a huge problem for those of us who are trying to provide a quality product outside of urban areas.
There are many ways to circumvent this law. All a supplier has to do is award distribution rights to a particular county, or counties. Brands aren't required to be distributed state wide. Up hill battle that can't be won. Opening a business in a rural area has both it's +/-. You many not have access to products available in a more urban area, but you are also the only game in town. I'm just playing devil's advocate. I have no dog in this fight.
@jamvt: Maine's laws are different from MA laws. Also, I'm not speaking of Rural establishments Per Se, what I'm talking about is importers/distributors pouring all of their wares into one location, while others cant receive the same products even in the same counties/area. I actually am, getting ready to open my own brewery, and our liquor enforcer was pretty darn black and white on the laws.
