(edited to add link->)
http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/what-the-ale-did-you-sign-the-petition/article_61862aae-92a9-11e3-8dec-001a4bcf6878.htmlPosted: Monday, February 10, 2014 5:16 pm | Updated: 5:22 pm, Mon Feb 10, 2014.
By TOM GILBERT Chief Photographer | 4 comments
Did you sign the petition? I have.
The petition is to allow brewers to sell to whomever they want to.
This is only small step in our government’s process. What we need is a bill that we can rally behind. Hopefully the corkscrew legislation will pass and maybe, just maybe, we can get some bills that will create jobs, taxes and generate the freedom that other states have.
When a brewery can sell their product out of state easier than in their own state something is wrong. I don’t blame the lawmakers of today. They really don’t know. Most of the laws are old and until recently we didn’t have breweries brewing everywhere. But now things are different. Our laws are regressive for consumers as well as brewers. What other product produced in Oklahoma is restricted as much? If a winemaker can sell their wine at their shop why not beer? Let's get some equality here. Right now the consumer has to pay for the beer, the wholesaler, the distributor and the liquor store. Why? The brewer has no control over where his beer is sold. They can’t sell it on site. Why? Let the market dictate what is needed. I am sure breweries need help distributing and selling, but why force them, let's give them the option and maybe just maybe the savings can be passed onto the consumer. Too many middlemen.
Back to the petition. This isn’t going to change things much, but I am hoping it will. We need someone to get to writing a bill that brewers and consumers can be happy with. I want more taxes collected because more local beers are sold. Support local in everything you do not just beer. Keep that money here where we need the revenue.
Here is a link to the petition:
http://tinyurl.com/kf9oseu
