Ohio Protects Three-Tier System, Makes A-B InBev Upset

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Ohio's Governor Kasich signed Senate Bill 48 into law on April 30. The new law limits beer brewers from moving into the distributor business, thus protecting the three-tiered system of alcohol manufacturing, distribution, and sales in the state. Needless to say, the measure does not have the support of beer conglomerate Anheuser-Busch InBev, whose lobbyists cried foul and demanded meetings with legislators to complain after the bill had already passed. In a public statement, an A-B InBev rep said that they “remain concerned about the manner in which this…was introduced and passed.” Despite A-B InBev's big budget line for lobbying and political contributions, and complaints sounding remarkably close to whining about how much control Big Beer didn't have over the legislative process this time, Ohio lawmakers went with what was best for the public good.