This article originally appeared in The Global Beer Network's newsletter. The Global Beer Network imports many wonderful beers, including the Mort Subite line of lambics, Ichtegems Oud Bruin, Bornem Abbey Ales, Gouden Draak, Piraat, and MANY others. It is worth looking at past articles, Johnny is very in touch with important issues - like the one below - that can challenge our rights and affect us all. 

Chicago wants to ban the sale of individual beer bottles or cans.
by Johnny Fincioen

From the windy city comes a proposal to protect the business of the American macro-brewers, cleverly disguised under the banner to "protect children". This proposal especially hurts the sale of the high end Belgian beer products and some other imports, since a bottle of good Belgian beer may cost as much as a six-pack of cheap American macro-brews. Everybody would have to buy beer per six-pack now.

This kind of proposals will not keep under-age drinkers from buying beer. We don't believe that minors buy expensive Belgian beer, instead they buy the beer that is advertised so aggressively. They don't celebrate a victory after savoring a Belgian delicacy, but rather after downing a six-pack of a water like substance. Since they want to prove they "can hold their liquor", they need the cheapest beer with the least amount of alcohol to keep them going through the night.

If Chicago wants to raise the price of beer to make it less affordable for minors, there are other ways to do that. For example: Chicago could say that the minimum dollar amount of a beer purchase at the retail level must be above $ 2.00. In doing so, they don't discriminate against the quality products. Also, I don't believe that minors, who want to buy beer, will be scared away because now they will have to spent $ 2.99 for a six-pack instead of 59 cents for an individual can. On the contrary, now they have a better deal per beer!

(Newsletter May 1998)