The U.S. Treasury department is investigating the $250 billion annual U.S. alcohol market and outlined reforms it said could boost competition and save consumers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Go Uncle Sam!
Like disappearing pubs in England, many smaller breweries in the U.S. either went out of business or were swallowed up by giant corporations. The craft brewing revolution offset that but even those successful ones get bought up resulting in higher prices and often fewer choices.
New merger and acquisition scrutiny, different tax rates and lifting regulatory burdens to new entrants in the wine, beer and spirits market would make the market fairer for new brewers and cheaper for consumers.
Per Reuters, the two largest brewers selling beer in the United States – Anheuser Busch InBev and Molson Coors – account for 65% of U.S. beer revenues.
“American consumers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and workers should not have to suffer under the thumb of a highly concentrated beer industry,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter. “Enforcement and regulatory authorities should have the courage to learn and the fortitude necessary to enforce the law and protect competition.”
We raise our glass!
– Jet Cannon
