While reporting the spoiled food and beverage tax credit story, we caught up with Craig Purser, president, National Beer Wholesalers Association, and asked him about a white paper published by NBWA affiliate Center for Alcohol Policy that has become a target for people in the liquor industry who feel it’s an attempt to close down “cocktails to go,” which is one of the major relief measures taken to help restaurants and bars survive the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We’re not quarreling with these folks,” he told us. “We just don’t think these rules should be made permanent without a good debate. I’m not familiar,” he added, “with people wanting to step in front of a restaurant trying to meet their rental obligations” by offering cocktails with takeout dinners.
Purser said beer, wine and spirits have all done “a really good job” during the pandemic. “I haven’t seen any beer wholesalers opposing any of these emergency orders. That CAP paper raises questions about whether these orders should be made permanent. There’s a big difference between a temporary executive order allowing flexibility and one making something permanent.”
Beer wholesalers feel a bit bruised, Purser said. “I got a call from a craft beer distributor who has probably been in business for 10 years. In his marketplace, he is the brand builder for a number of these brands. During Covid-19, officials allowed the breweries to deliver to retailers and to homes, but they didn’t have to pay the 12% local tax” the wholesaler had to pay. The result: “They’re undercutting me, and I’m the guy who build their brand,” Purser recalled the wholesaler saying.