Is Beer Returnable?

Here in New York no alcohol is returnable.

 

He's not asking if you can or do take your old 6-pack back to the store, he's asking if the store can return to the distributor.

depends on the state and the distributor within that state.

 

If it's a brew that actually sells it's typically the distributors fault for past date; either they had it sitting in the warehouse too long or loaded a customer with too much by offering a hot deal to hit a number. In a three tier system suppliers are over reliant on distributors to do a good job in the best interest of the brand: merchandising, programming, and securing "the right" shelf space. Any reasonable size beer supplier is probably protected against beer past it's date as they fill the distributors warehouse with plenty of time to get the beer out to the retailers. Because the distributor eats the cost and craft beer unlike BMC is costly, they often don't pull and maintain shelf life as the BMC distributors do.

 

Oh, thanks for that clarification.

 

It all comes down to who should be responsible for old beer. If the brewer would kindly use a bottled on date as an industry standard I think a lot of this kind of problem would not exist. The idea is that the shop owner invested in that beer to sell and we are a fickle bunch. If every store has to take it back past the best by date which does not really exist, then how would money be made? (a best by date for the purpose of returning the beer that is because it is misleading. Beer is not milk. It does not spoil like that)

I am sure I said that poorly.

 

The industry standard is that the distributor is responsible for maintaining fresh beer on the retailers' shelves. Here's AB contract language, circa the 1980s:

"In no event shall over-age Product (according to age standards published from time to time by Anheuser-Busch) reach the consuming public. If any over-age Product is found in the possession of wholesaler or in the possession of a retailer to whom wholesaler sold such Product, wholesaler agrees, unless prohibited by law, to destroy such over-age Product in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, and to replace any such Product which had been in the possession of a retailer with fresh Product at no cost to the retailer. Wholesaler's cost of destroying and replacing over-age Product shall be borne by wholesaler or by Anheuser-Busch, depending upon which party was responsible for the over-age condition."
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And the National Beer Wholesaler Association seems to agree:

 

Yeah, thats generally what I do. However, I was complaining about old Lagunitas on a different thread the other day, and it honestly never occurred to me ever to return it. I know you can in NH but I'm still on the fence about it...I don't know what my hang-up is about it really either...

 

past date beer - one of the great problems of the world (my world at least)
seems to me it would be tricky since who is going to eat (drink) that cost

 

TW in SC will take back beer and wine

 

Not exactly your question, but I messaged Half Acre about an awfully stale 4 pack I bought at a grocery store. They were happy to replace it with the freshest 4 pack they had (out front they had 4 packs that were a couple of weeks old, he went in the back and grabbed one that was only one week old). Great customer service.

 

I've returned crappy beer, but it's from stores I do business with. A great owner and beer store will back what they sell.

 

@31Sam13 it s actually illegal in to return beer in NH. Been to MTS, and listened while i was there. That is all.

 

In the urinal

 

amazing how many people actually read, understand, and answer a question correctly.... most of you need to put the bottle down and READ THE QUESTION FULLY AND UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE ANSWERING!!

 

I think it was around 13.

 

but it is legal to return liquor with a receipt unopened at the state liquor store.

 

Just returned a case of Weltenburger Dunkel Weiss to my beer store. I drank two bottles and both were bad and not even in the same way. One was sour and the other just watery. There was an 8 digit expiration code on the bottle. Neither the Weltenburger folks nor their imported returned my email with they key to expiration code.

 

Can you return beer to a bottle shop? I don't know. I guess it depends on if you want the store owner to like you or not.

 

This is a process in my opinion that really needs to be more common place.

Yes it can be done, but it is not without some consumer vigilance, and some knowledge and dedication to make it happen.

I have returned beer. It was not good, it never should have been sold to begin with. However, the place I did it is a place that had honored my wishes, and they in return have gotten much of my dollars and dedication through the years.

 

I've done it! Of course my lawyer won't let me talk about the deatils until the trial is over.