Nebraska lawmakers yesterday defeated a measure that would have created some hurdles for microbreweries. They had concerns that it would hurt a flourishing statewide industry. Siouxland Public Media’s Mary Hartnett has more.
80745NebMicroBrews :43
The proposal would have required that beer produced by micro breweries go a distributor's warehouse before going on to liquor stores, groceries and other outlets.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that opponents of the amendment said it would have hurt small, rural breweries that are far from a warehouse, by adding hundreds of miles to each shipment and increasing their costs.
But supporters of the amendment were worried about fairness. Larger beer makers have to sell their product through a three-tiered system consisting of brewers, distributors and retailers. The system was set up after Prohibition. There are more than 20 craft beer producers in Nebraska. For Siouxland Public Media, I’m Mary Hartnett.