I've been receiving emails from these folks lately to support their cause...to preserve the current 3 Tier system in our fine state. I was always led to believe that this was part of what was keeping some brewers from coming to Tennessee. I searched the Forums and could not find any information on this. Can someone smarter than me (not too much of a stretch) help explian this or refer me to an existing thread on this topic? http://3tierfortnbeer.com/
If the Tennessee alcohol legislation is anything like Alabama's 3 tier system, it basically prohibits customers from buying beer directly from brewers for off site consumption (cans/kegs/growlers). Distributors worry sales at the brewery will hurt their income as well as retail stores. Brewers propose allowing customers to purchase beer to take home will enable them to sample more beer and motivate them to seek that beer from local retailers. Also sales directly from the brewery are more profitable for the brewers so they can then take that money and expand production quicker. Then they can make more beer for distribution and help grow their brand which benefits everyone. And yes it does influence brewers opening in the area. I read that neither Stone or Cigar City considered Alabama as a potential location for expansion because of our restrictive 3 tier system. Free the Hops and Alabama Brewers Guild are both working with legislators to change these laws to benefit breweries and bring new business to the state. http://albeer.org/government-affairs/the-three-tier-system
from the website: and here is a good counterpoint: http://www.aei.org/publication/let-it-flow-chipping-away-at-the-three-tier-alcohol-system/
Seems like propaganda from already wealthy distribution companies not wanting to face competition from anyone else.
It looks like it is certain distributors and breweries backing this. I'm assuming they are wanting to prevent a situation like the one in Kentucky. Small distributors and breweries don't want someone like ABinbev to be able to own a distributor and corner the market. This is what the current fight is about in Kentucky. InBev wants to buy a distributor in Kentucky. They would have a lot of power and could hurt other breweries and distributors.
The three tier system works until you want to buy a packaged product from the brewery. Breweries should be allowed to sell on site.
I definitely agree. The breweries here get around it by having a taproom. They are allowed to sell bottles, growlers and kegs from them. I personally think I should be able to walk into a grocery store and buy liquor and high gravity beer. Unfortunately, you can't in Tennessee. I think this site is really to prevent ABinbev from buying distributors in Tennessee and cornering the market. I'm not positive, but it sounds like it is just precautionary due to what is going on in Kentucky. Edit: I haven't read the actual legislation, but if it prevents craft breweries from selling their beer onsite, then it's bullshit. Unfortunately, the website is quite vague and does not address issues like that.
Can you not buy anything on Sunday's? In Tennessee liquor stores are closed on Sunday, which I think is dumb. They should be able to be open 24/7 if they choose. We can buy low ABV beer on Sunday's, but that is it.
there are a few places here that can but a lot of places aren't open on Sundays. the wal mart market closest to me has a sign up in their liquor area that says they can't sell on Sundays.
I agree with Johntomk that the website is quite vague which to me supports fritts211's comment, "It seems like propaganda from already wealthy distribution companies not wanting to face competition from anyone else." I don't see how the 3 Tier system would scare away potential breweries from coming to a state as WarEagleJeep noted.
It looks like it's what I thought it was. According to articles on their facebook page, the legislation is backed by distributors and Brewers in Tennessee and is aimed at ABinbev. They're trying to prevent ABinbev from being able to own a distributor and corner the market. Here is a small article: http://www.commercialappeal.com/new...n-beer-wholesalers-and-anheuserbusch_52867126
No idea what that article said. However, I did see on the 3 tier for TN twitter account that the legislation would NOT affect a brewery's ability to sell at their own location. Now, if that's true, and this is solely aimed at making sure AB INBEV doesn't own a distribution house here, then I'm all for it. But, having heard some of the stories of TN distributors (particularly in my neck of the woods in Knoxville), and knowing how generally incompetent they are, I'm still hesitant to fully support this. I'm not a huge 3 tier fan, because it does sometimes hurt breweries and customers when exorbitant, overly powerful distribution houses have so much influence it's their way or the highway if you want to be able to sell your product, but I'm much less a fan of big beer.
The 3 tier system itself doesn't bother potential brewers but some of the restrictive legislation we have here does. As mentioned breweries want to be able to directly sell cans/bottles/kegs/growlers to customers but out current 3 tier prevents that. If they amended that and kept the rest of the 3 tier then I think we could make everyone happy. I also believe Alabama has some restrictions on breweries serving food too which deters breweries like Stone and Cigar City from opening here since they want to open restaurants along with their brewery.
