Our Take on Franchise Rift

Dear Client:The squabbling over franchise reform between the Brewers Association and the NBWA/distributors has been on the top of everybody's mind recently, and I've received several emails asking me what I think. To tell the truth, I've been all over the map on this issue. You'll remember IBG consultant Joe Thompson's argument last summer (see BBD 06/18/2013 ) that the time has come for state franchise law carve-outs exempting craft brewers because distributors have changed from "small, family businesses that