Support Your Local Brewery – Become a Beer Activist!

For me, the most important reason for building a small brewery is to bring back the concept of “local beer.”  Perhaps it makes me a “homer”, but I am a great supporter of anything local I can get my hands on.  I prefer to support locally owned and operated businesses whenever possible because it means I am helping to keep small business viable in the community, and small business is definitely the engine which keeps our economy running.

Unfortunately the importance of small business gets overlooked all too often when the regulators and taxing authorities decide they need to exert their influence or increase the revenues.  Now - I am not saying that I am for pollution, drunk driving, or underpaying our staff.  But I am saying that the powers that be almost always don’t see the big picture, and quite often the “unintended consequences” of their actions can be devastating for small business and the economy as a whole. And the situation is certainly exacerbated in the alcoholic beverage industry which is highly regulated by the feds, the states, and sometimes, even the local jurisdiction.

I am assuming if you are reading this that you are a beer enthusiast.  If so, I am happy to report that there is a mechanism now in place for you to move from enthusiast to activist.  A new website started by the Brewers Association, the trade group to which most of the nation’s small brewers belong, will keep you up to date on any legislation that could affect the well being of a brewery near you: www.supportyourlocalbrewery.org.  Visit the website and sign up to receive email alerts whenever there is legislation pending that will affect the beer community in your local area.  You then have the opportunity to get involved if you so choose!

Just 30 or so years ago there were fewer than 50 breweries operating in the United States.  Now there are over 1400.  If you think that is good, sign up now.  Then, no matter what happens, at least you will not be surprised.

For comments, either click below or email me at hugh@ccbeer.com

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