Politics

Beer Industry: This Bud's Not for You

By Anne Landman

California Beer and Beverage Distributors (CBBD) are fighting Proposition 19, a measure on California's ballot to legalize adult possession of marijuana and let local governments to regulate and tax its sale. CBBD donated $10,000 to Public Safety First, a committee organized to oppose Proposition 19. Beer sellers are the first competitor-industry to oppose the initiative.The alcohol industry is concerned that if marijuana is legalized, consumers will start substituting smoking weed for drinking, eroding alcohol sales. Proponents of Proposition 19 are watching to see if the hard liquor, wine and pharmaceutical industries will follow suit in funding opposition to the measure. Not all California beer makers oppose Proposition19, though. Microbrewers Sierra Nevada and Stone Brewing Company are refusing to take part in the opposition campaign.

Full post as published by PR Watch on October 01, 2010 (boomark / email).