A push for the beverage industry

A coalition representing a large number of participants in the Montana alcohol beverage industry has agreed in principle to a plan that would improve the business environment for the industry.

Details remain to be hammered out, but the agreement generally would allow brewers to hold one beer license or liquor license and bars to hold one brewery license. Under current law a business can hold only one type of license. The agreement would have to be presented to the Legislature for approval.

“It’s a common-sense compromise that works for the licensees and works for the brewers,” Montana Tavern Association lobbyist John Iverson said.

The agreement “would expand the opportunities of our licensees” by allowing them to operate a brewery if they choose, he said. 

It would allow brewers to purchase an existing beer license on the open market, Iverson added, so they would be able to operate without the current restrictions of a sample room.

“The nice thing about this compromise is that it does not require anyone to change, if they don’t want to,” Iverson said. “It simply expands the business opportunities available to license holders and brewers.”

The coalition has met four times since the 2013 legislature, when a bill detailing how some smaller brewers can retail their beer on premises was tabled after strong debate.

That solution appears to be found. The coalition consists of representatives from the MTA, the Montana Brewers Assocation, larger brewers not part of the MBA, Montana Beer and Wine Distributors Association, the Gaming Industry Association of Montana, the Montana Restaurant Association and the state’s Liquor Control Division. 

“The taverns would like to work with our industry to improve the business environment for everyone, not to focus on conflicts over sample rooms of the past,” said Mike Hope, president of the MTA and member of the coalition.