This is one quarrel that won’t likely be settled over a cold one.
Trade associations and lobbyists for alcohol manufacturers such as MillerCoors, Anheuser-Busch, Heineken and Diageo are brawling with their wholesale distributors over a bill that would strengthen states’ ability to regulate alcohol and make it harder to challenge state alcohol laws in court. The National Beer Wholesalers Association and the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America are pushing hard for the legislation, which would solidify their role as industry middlemen and effectively keep regulatory fights at the state level, where they have more influence. But drink manufacturers are scrambling to squelch it, arguing that the bill would create a patchwork of state regulations while potentially allowing states to override federal labeling and food safety laws, among other things.
