Did you guys see this article today?

[Brewmeister]

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/could-crafty-beer-giants-crush-small-breweries-before-they-take-off-35810044.html

Looks like the knives are out for the craft breweries...

[johnrm]

And have been for quite fine time.
The thing is publicans are allegedly on the receiving end of 5 and 6 figure sums, most likely in stock as a bag of money is only for the mafia, right?
The competition authority should be all over this like a rash.
Below cost selling is an unlikely charge as any payoff is most likely diluted over an extended period.
The independent minded beer lover could vote with his feet, unfortunately social circles being what they are mean you have to go to whet the punters go, which means a selection from the big lads only.

[Brewmeister]

Yeah this is pretty much bribery and should be treated as such. But we know how white collar crime/corruption is handled here...

[LordEoin]

we should find a forum addon to downvote a comment

[molc]

👍

[johnrm]

I don't think anyone bent over for Diageo. That's not a fair comment.

[johnrm]

@mrmeindl In the interest of keeping the thread on topic, What do you suggest is the best approach to the OP?

[Ibecake]

It's not a new practice going on for years well before the craft revolution.  Craft brewers are just new to the game that's been going on for decades. Back in 98 I used to work with a beer distributor who was affiliated with Heineken at the time and back then you were either a Heineken pub or a Guinness pub, Heineken regularly "incentivised" pubs to switch from Guinness Products to Heineken products. All we can do is to vote on our feet and support pubs and distributors that are craft/independent friendly.


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