Stores selling beer that isn't distributed to them...

oh, it was distributed to them alright.

 

Recently, CA ABC has been going all out to identify and enforce absolutely everything against code and nail the perps.

Example: A major non-profit in Napa Valley has been raising money for decades with an event to sell "homewine" which, like homebrew, is illegal. This year, ABC showed up and shut them down. As a result, we passed a bill legalizing the use of homewine and homebrew at non-profit events starting in 2014, woo hoo!!!

But, the lesson is.... if a business has been breaking ABC law and getting away with it, even for decades, they had better think twice about advertising what they are doing.

 

The brewers are more upset by this than consumers.

 

I can't speak for Illinois legislation, but in Ohio a brewery is licensed to sell their beer directly to a retailer in addition to distributors, so it's perfectly legal for an establishment with a liquor permit to purchase beer directly from those breweries (especially when they are in the same state).

 

I can't imagine I'd be too upset with them. Majority of this site trades which is generally understood to be a no-no, so pot calling the kettel black. As long as I get my beer, I'm not terribly upset about how it gets here.

 

What you are suggesting is blackmail as well. Either you have a problem with this behavior and you report it. Or you let store carry on. Insinuating someone is doing something illegal in an effort to score free beer, is blackmail.

 

You bring up an interesting point.....ABC is starting to try and enforce all these antiquated laws. I for one hope somebody DOES get popped for this. It will call attention to the bad laws and hopefully the law will change. Somebody needs to take one for the team!!

 

I enjoy trying new beers I would otherwise not be able to obtain, so of course I am in favor.

 

Actually, the word you're looking for is probably extortion, not blackmail, and without a direct threat, its probably neither. Just saying "Hey, I see you're selling some beers we dont get disto'd here" is an observation of a fact, not a threat. Just to be clear.

 

So almost everyone on here thinks this is ok because it benefits you? I agree that many of the restrictions on alcohol sales are stupid, but you are forgetting that this practice is unfair to the many other retail outlets that abide by the regulations. As long as people want something they can't get, there will be a black market for it, but I don't necessarily see those who flaunt the system as some kind of folk heroes.

 

Please define precisely what you mean by "three-tier system" and if this means a supplier/brewer selling directly to a retail store, then this is absolutely not true. I work for a distributor. Smaller suppliers/brewers sell directly to retailers all the time - especially when they are very small. When they get bigger, they just don't have the resources to distribute, then they contact a distributor.

 

That brewer may have also set themselves up as a distributor. Here in PA Philadelphia Brewing Company self-distributes all their beers. (or at least all in the SEPA Market)

 

And I'm pretty sure they CAN do this if they want in California too! It would depend on whatever is negotiated in the distribution agreement (i.e. exclusivity or certain exceptions). The vast majority of the time, the distributor has full exclusivity.

 

90% of this is related to taxation. States get mighty pissy when they don't get paid.

 

If stores are selling beer that isn't distributed they should just go all in and sell homebrew too!! It would make a lot of us very happy!!

 

Are you in Napa?

 

It's funny... but here is a poll... How many of you are actually Retailers.. It's illegal and wrong.. It hurts the Breweries, the distributors and retailers.. Which in the end hurts you the consumer...
How? There is no control.. Who maintains it? Who ensures freshness? Just freshness alone.. But what do I know, I'm just a retailer..

 

I just want to know where the hell a store like that is near where I live. And I'm calling bullshit on the "it hurts the consumer" argument. The only person it hurts is the distributor and I have absolutely no love lost for them. Who ensures freshness? I do because I look at the damn bottle. And, at least with high gravity beers, I don't care if they've been on the shelf for a year. Or two.

 

Actually i think the saying goes snitches end up in ditches

 

Legalities aside, the retailers are paying retail prices for the grey market stuff. They are then adding on their markup, which in these cases, can be substantial. It's a loser all around except for the store scavenging.