Pretty Things goes to town on "pay to play" in Massachusetts

It's funny he cites Jim Koch as inspiration as I assumed Sam Adams was one of the breweries that was paying for lines.

 

It is the same for grocery chain retail shelf space.....pay to play is here to stay in the capital marketplace.

 

I'd think Hindy and Koch have been doing some complaining and that is what inspired him enough to take the risk of going public with his complaint. Given Hindy's earlier response to a pay for protection scheme I'd suggest that's indeed what's meant by "inspiration." Both are committed to fair opportunity.

 

Wow that is a lot to think about. It sucks to think that great craft breweries (possibly with limited finances) are not getting into bars because distributors/breweries are buying lines. I know that where I live in California there are great beers to buy in stores, but draft line ups are usually lacking the products that are around, including local stuff.

 

Am I the only one who had no idea this was going on? I assume if it is happening in Boston it is happening all over. Anyone know if that is true?

 

Really?
Perhaps it is bc I know some people who work at bars/breweries... But I have heard often of bars being offered money or demanding money. I can understand the temptation as a small bar when a big brewery offers you a decent sum, but it is completely unethical and does not foster fair competition. I am sure bigger breweries that are offering money will defend their actions w/ some bs about Darwin etc... but personally I would rather not support bars or breweries who engage in said practices. Granted, there are so many things corrupt in the industry from the 3 tier system, to lobbying against anything and everything craft (eg 64oz growlers will be the downfall of society in FL), that it really shouldn't surprise anyone.

cheers

 

Here and there but not everywhere would seem to be the case.

e.g., http://www.chicagobusiness.com/arti...hicago-beer-market-crains-investigation-finds

 

Also, Greg Koch, of Stone has been publicly pretty vocal about this problem as well.

 

Considering the sheer amount of money involved I'd be more surprised if "Pay To Play" wasn't going on all over the place. Let's face it, whether it's shelf space or tap handles they are commodities with more "demand" than "supply".

 

I've heard of it happening around Pittsburgh. And not just for money either. Steelers/Penguins/Pirates tickets, neon signs for your bar, etc.

And also wholesaler reps sellling their entire portfolio, not just single breweries. So if a bar has 20 lines, 5 of them would "belong" to a particular wholesaler. Its an odd business for sure.

 

I don't think it's going on in the MPLS/STP; although, I could just be naíve. There are a fair number of bars where BMC can't even get on the taps because their full with local and craft brews, for example the Red Cow, Happy Gnome and Stout's Pub. I find it distressing that Boston, of all places should have #dirtylines.

 

Money and potential profit attract corruption much as ripe fruit attracts flys. But there are a variety of reasons to think that without the 3 tier system the corruption problem would be much worse.

 

It appears that some "gifting" is allowed so long as the total value is below a certain amount. No shortage of neon signs and posters, etc. in the Philly area either.

 

Knowing how things go down in Boston this doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Frustrates me as a consumer? Sure. Surprises me? Not at all.

Hopefully this is the start of a change but I imagine this system is pretty deep rooted and won't die easy. Cheers to what could be and what might have been.

 

I feel like whenever I see Sam Adams Rebel IPA on somewhere the bar is def getting paid to have that crap on. Out of al the killer IPAs out there you choose to put on Rebel?! GTFO

 

So, is the 3-tier system not doing its job, or creating the problem? Without distribution as a middle man, this would just be considered a discount or rebate that larger brewers are able to stomach because of economies of scale. But a large discount offered to distributors would likely not be fully passed on to bars. Either way, it seems the only thing that can prevent this is consumer demand for Pretty Things beer.

 

I'd like to know who this is: "...Right now one of the hottest newish brewers in MA pays for lines all over the place."

 

It's a law enforcement failure.

 

is it the same for "end caps" and "front of store displays?" Yikes.