Ontario Brewers get band-aid, but cure nowhere in sight

I see that the Government of Ontario is putting aside $8 million over the next four years to help Ontario-based craft brewers market their brands. These funds followed a $5 million commitment announced in 2006.

As the consumer of an independent brand, you can’t help but sympathize with the plight that the small lot brewers have as they try to get their products into Ontario homes. But you have to wonder, wouldn’t it be more effective if our politicians just dealt with the real issue?

The Brewers Retail is the problem (see prior post “The anachronistic Brewers Retail” June 13-08), and no amount of nibbling at the edges will truly help the 28 small breweries still trying to make a go of it in Ontario (see prior post “The Star joins the parade against the Brewers Retail” July 6-08).

MRM