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This week in 2003, INSIGHTS reported point-of-purchase mktg materials were a new target of Fed watchdogs. "Public health agencies and policy makers should work with liquor control boards to reduce point of purchase marketing," said Center for Disease Control. CDC review of 329 cities found point of purchase alcohol mktg displays in 94% of convenience stores, gas stations and small groceries, reported AP. Those displays "could promote risky or underage drinking," claimed CDC. Also noted that less than half displayed anti-alcohol messages. INSIGHTS wondered: "shouldn't stores be checking IDs to combat underage drinking?" This week in 2005, speaking at small brewers' conference in Wash DC, BA head Charlie Papazian touted strength of craft brewers and how their beers were driving the US beer industry at the time. Charlie talked about the "$10 longneck" and "$20 dinner bottle" and how small brewers were providing "high-margin options" vs liquor. At subsequent craft brewers' confab in Philly, Charlie said, quoted in Philly Daily News: "American craft beer offers the flavor and diversity [consumers] are looking for, as opposed to trendy malternatives and tooty fruity cocktails. We're producing 'real' beer, instead of adding sugar and caffeine&hellip;. Plus, finally, we're answering the European mystique, that a lot of imports - the Germans, the Belgians, the English ales - are better. American brewers are matching these beers, style for style."This week in 2006, ahead of Spring Legislative Conference, NBWA prexy Craig Purser sent out a bulletin entitled: "An Industry Call to Arms." He wrote that "the deregulation of the state-based system of control for malt beverages is the single biggest issue facing the beer industry today." He added: "Our message to members of Congress will be that state-based alcohol regulation is critical," noting that 21st amendment "empowered the states to craft alcohol regulations" as each state's citizens saw fit. "This power should not be usurped by the courts in favor of a few powerhouse economic interests," said Craig. In making "the case to maintain current regulation," industry members have to do so "in a manner that does not put our credibility at risk. Characterizing our product as something that can be abused is consistent with NBWA's long-term position of advocating for responsibility. Promoting public policy that recognizes the social sensitivity of our product is a long-held beer industry position." Those comments seemed to be at least partly in response to recent brewhaha over controversial state and distrib "temperance" arguments in Costco case, wrote INSIGHTS.This week in 2007, INSIGHTS reported on yet another acquisition by Superior Bev Co (owned by John Antonucci & John Fleming) as it bought over 1 mil cases from Fame Bev Co (owned by Lockshin family). Superior had been a consolidator in Miller and Coors networks in OH for yrs and was still on the move. Fame had over 60 suppliers, including wine and non-alcs. "Approval process for dozens of suppliers has gotta be a bear," noted INSIGHTS. Fame sold to six different distribs as 4 AB distribs (including Canton branch) bought 100,000 cases or so of InBev brands and Glazer's bought some of its wine brands. Fame had been in bev biz since 1915. Sale was triggered by loss of lines like Monster, InBev etc and other "market forces beyond our control," said chairman Jim Lockshin, who called sale "the end of an era."This week in 2008, during AB's natl sales meeting, sales veep Evan Athanas said AB was at "very critical juncture" following "unacceptable" 0.3% core brand STR growth in '07. With all AB's "advantages," Evan bluntly noted, "somehow we're not winning at retail." But AB share performance had picked up in supers recently, he added, as co gained share in 4 of last 5 weeks, while at same time Miller share performance weakened. At end of convention, mktg veep Dave Peacock said AB "will grow share in the summer" of 2008. Then too, prexy August Busch IV acknowledged tough economic conditions, but called beer "recession resistant." Noted AB was in "a fight" and had "to keep our costs down." As for speculation about takeover of AB, August said "things get churned up all the time," but AB and distribs "can&#39;t get distracted." August believed MillerCoors would be approved by DOJ and again noted that would be "tremendous opportunity" for AB, because of "significant disruption" in early days. Just 2 mos later that takeover "speculation" was a reality.This week in 2011, Maryland General Assembly passed alcohol tax hike that jumped state's sales tax on alcohol from 6% to 9%. (Gov Martin O'Malley signed into law a month later.) That was a "historic" hike, first in MD since 1955, said control advocate David Jernigan. But it was also a smaller increase than Jernigan et al (MADD, etc) originally sought. Only a small portion of it was earmarked for alcohol-related programs. State expected tax hike to raise $85 mil annually to go towards school construction and "aid services" for disabled in Baltimore and Prince George County. Move "brought howls" from state Republicans who cried foul that Democratic-led Assembly "strong-armed" the big tax hike in final hours of current session, reported Wash Post. Many state pols "objected that urban and suburban counties would get the benefits while rural retailers would suffer," as customers crossed over borders for cheaper prices, noted UPI. But vote brought praise from anti-alcohol industry groups, including Jernigan of CAMY who noted "because it is a sales tax, it will rise with inflation, unlike existing alcohol excise taxes, so its public health and revenue benefits will persist into the future."This week in 2017, Boston Beer founder/chmn Jim Koch wrote an op-ed in NY Times in which he wrote: "This is the greatest time in history to be a beer drinker in America," but "the horizon isn't so bright" for craft brewers. Why not? Craft's deceleration to single digit growth is "to be expected in a maturing part of any market ‒ but it's also the result of a pushback by gargantuan global brewers, aided by slack government antitrust oversight," wrote Jim. Then this: "I worry that yet another major shift in the beer landscape is upon us ‒ and this time American consumers will be the losers." "That sounds pretty dour for a segment that grew 6-7% last yr with a record 5300 brewers, including over 800 newbies added last yr alone and some 2000 in planning," commented INSIGHTS. What was the problem? Basically, the govt blew it in Jim's view "by greenlighting these two big brewers to extend their duopoly into craft beer by acquiring craft brewers." And the ABI SABMiller deal "was approved with largely meaningless conduct restrictions," according to Jim, while AB and MC were "given a free pass to continue buying craft." He used an example of Karbach deal approved in a big state where AB already had 50+ share. "When it comes to protecting American companies and workers, at least in beer, our government does make bad deals."

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