Ohio Gov. John Kasich struck down a prohibition-like restriction on alcohol limits in beer as craft breweries rejoice.
Now, so long as the higher alcohol content is labeled, the limit doesn’t exist.
“Lawmakers say the move levels the playing field and makes Ohio even more attractive to smaller breweries like BrewDog, a Scottish craft beer company that’s building its $30 million U.S. headquarters — including restaurant and taproom — in suburban Columbus,” according to WKYC in Cleveland.
The Ohio Craft Brewers Association counts 117 breweries among its membership now allowed to brew with more freedom and creativity.
The now-repealed regulation, however, isn’t the only restriction that limits the freedom of beer drinkers.
In 2015, alcohol distributors in Kentucky were successful in limiting the growth of craft breweries and the reach of Ohio competition into the bluegrass state. Distributors are a powerful lobby on the state and federal levels, usually funded by larger brewers. Licensing requirements, market limitations, and legal decisions that require middlemen between the brewer and the customer favor larger companies.
Big Beer has lost one battle over a state law that limited the appeal of craft breweries, but until distributor control has been reformed, it will continue to win the war.
