Craft Beer Politics in Perspective

@BeerSommelier points us to a warning from the Lone Star State. 
 
While #GABeer seems beset by politics influenced by a strong lobby with deep pockets, at least we are moving forward.  However once (someday) we as beer lovers achieve what we want with modern beer distribution and sales laws, we must not consider the war won.  Why not?  Just look at some states that have things a lot better than we do, and you will find states where progress is in the process of being rolled back  Take Texas for instance, a place know for its economic freedoms and strength, but not free of crony capitalism and the influence of those deep lobbying pockets....

Texas Brewers Are Ready to Fight a Bill That Would Kill the Craft-Beer Boom

Texas Rep. Senfronia Thompson filed legislation this week that proposed new limitations on craft breweries that operate in Texas. Specifically, her bill seeks to limit the amount of beer small breweries can self-distribute to 5,000 barrels a year. The current limit is 40,000 barrels.

Texas Brewers were quick to cry skunky suds. Thompson has long received large donations from organizations that lobby on behalf of Texas beer distributors, casting a dubious shadow on her bill, which would force small breweries to participate in the same distribution systems that cater to large, commercial operations. The move is decidedly anti-business, and Texas loves business goddammit.

[...]

The 5,000 number is also insultingly low. So low, in fact, it threatens to impact even the smallest brewers. "I brewed 3,500 barrels last year and will cross 5,000 this year," says Michael Peticolas, owner and operator of Peticolas Brewery and a lawyer who's active on legislation that effects local breweries. To continue to grow, he'd have to find a distributor, giving up his distribution rights in the process. Revolver Brewing, a larger brewery that also self-distributes, would be hit even harder.

Fortunately, the article concludes that the bill has little chance of passage.  But the effort demonstrates that the war is never won, and craft beer lovers must always be on guard.