Alabama Wholesale Beer Association issued a statement Friday afternoon protesting a bill in the Alabama legislature that would permit breweries and brewpubs to sell to-go beer in Madison County.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Patterson, R-Meridianville, is supported by the Alabama Brewers Guild.
Currently, breweries and brewpubs are allowed to sell beer only for consumption on the premises. Alabama consumers are not allowed to buy beer at a brewery to take home.
The wholesale beer association said it was not consulted in the crafting of the bill and criticized the brewers guild for self-serving legislation.
The full statement from Donna Alexander, executive director of the Alabama Wholesale Beer Association:
"The Alabama Wholesale Beer Association welcomes evolutionary change to support the growth of the beer industry in Alabama. We have long supported Alabama laws that have enabled the beer industry to prosper and grow by virtue of our three-tier system and it's strict regulatory and enforcement provisions. We have, for decades, worked with brewers, the Legislature and the ABC Board to enact evolutionary reform in our laws when circumstances and opportunity for growth and change arise."
"The Alabama Brewers Guild has not included us in their processes and continues to introduce one-sided special interest bills without addressing the statewide concerns raised by the Legislature, the ABC Board and other industry parties. We stand ready, willing and able to participate in a collaborative effort to draft and support legislation to advance the evolutionary changes in our laws that will promulgate proper regulation while serving as a catalyst for continued growth of our industry. We hope the Brewers Guild will accept our continue offers to work together for the benefit of all."
The state's three-tier system requires breweries to work with a licensed wholesaler to reach the market.
The Alabama Brewers Guild represents 27 breweries in Alabama. The guild has said most states allow some form of take-home direct sales from breweries.