Say Good-bye to 3.2% Beer?
Now only two states, Utah and Minnesota, have a 3.2% alcohol restrictions in grocery and c-stores.
Jan 22, 2019
WASHINGTON – Oklahoma took the plunge in October 2018, Colorado acted on New Year’s and Kansas will get on board in April. Now only two states remain in the fight to keep low-strength 3.2% alcohol in grocery and convenience stores.
An Associated Press article reports that half of the nation’s 3.2% beer market was in Oklahoma and another 20% was in Colorado. Now, just two states, Utah and Minnesota, remain in the fight—but some say nationwide changes could influence lawmakers to reconsider.
Despite the decline in demand and market space, both Anheuser-Busch and New Belgium Brewing Co. will continue to meet the needs for 3.2% beer states. Other producers are starting to cut back on their production. Sean Mossman, director of sales and marketing for Oklahoma City-based craft brewer COOP Ale Works, says “the only reason we produced those two (3.2%) beers was to have beer in grocery and convenience stores. Now that we can sell our more popular styles in the grocery stores, we just don’t see any need to continue manufacturing those beers.”
Mossman says that the brewery’s business has increased 50% since Oklahoma grocery stores began stocking stronger strength beers. Some believe the market will control the decision from Utah and Minnesota, enabling them to join the majority sooner rather than later.
