ST. LOUIS -- Cold-beer sales in Missouri got a boost this week when the state senate gave first-round approval March 2 to a bill that would allow beer companies to lease portable refrigerators to convenience stores and grocers as a means of increasing shelf space. Senate Bill 919 would also allow those same stores to sell beer in reusable containers known as growlers.
The bill has divided the senate. Some senators believe the bill will open new avenues for smaller, craft beer brewers to introduce consumers to their products, while other worry local beer behemoth Anheuser-Busch InBev will control the space, hindering craft brewers.
The Missouri Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association supports the bill, according to Fox2Now St. Louis, saying it’s up to the retailer to decide which products go into the coolers. A-B also supports the bill.
If approved, the bill will go into effect Jan. 1, 2017.
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