WaPo Article on proposed changes to three-tier system

While encouraging, I suspect that folks that hold a monopoly in any business rarely give it up easily. We’ll see . . .
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
While encouraging, I suspect that folks that hold a monopoly in any business rarely give it up easily. We’ll see . . .
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DOA, I'm afraid. If it were a single type of monopoly (or perhaps more accurately, a single cartel) you might be able to go after it. But as it stands there are 6 identifiable, entrenched groups that won't give an inch. 50 state legislatures, several (PA, IA) distinct state distro systems, mega-distributors, the big 5 (or so) spirits corps, the Fed alpha bets, and -- in some places -- unions. Any reforming effort will play whack-a-mole and lose.

If it is ever brought down, it will be by one state going rogue and breaking the damn. But I doubt I'll see it.
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
Tristan,
If a state were to go rogue, which do you see as possible?
Best, jim
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Darn good question Jim.

I think the pressure Costco was exerting in WA is good example of how it might happen. Chisel away at the edges. Bribe the legislature as much as the mega-distributors. Problem being the prize will always be worth more for SWS (inter alia).

A few years ago, when Republic was still a stand alone entity I might have guessed TX.

States I'd definitely bet against: PA, NY, MD, UT, MN, IL. CA and FL have their own problems, with CA being a little more open. So once you knock out the big population centers, you'd need a prairie fire.

It is depressing.

I have been out of the industry for a few years now (I was on the dark side, not the side goodness and light) , so have lost track of some trends.

I am reminded of another problem: the maze of local licensing issues. Constellation, Diageo, Gallo, BF, Beam-S, P-R, just don't want to hire people to manage that. So for once the distributors claim of "adding value" is true. It never justifies the markup, of course.
 
originally posted by Tristan Welles:
If it is ever brought down, it will be by one state going rogue and breaking the damn.
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That wouldn't do it. Someone like Amazon deciding to take it on could do it though.
 
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