Massachusetts wholesaler agrees to pay $2M for unfair trade practices

“Craft Beer Guild LLC — a Massachusetts beer wholesaler responsible for selling about 200 craft brands from around the U.S. — has agreed to pay more than $2 million for violating state laws that prohibit unfair trade practices and illegal activities, the Boston Globe reported.

In February, after more than 15 months on investigation, the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) handed Craft Beer Guild a 90-day license suspension for offering inducements and unfair discounts in exchange for guaranteed retail placements — a practice known in the beer industry as “pay-to-play.”

In lieu of serving the suspension, Craft Beer Guild agreed to pay a fine equal to 50 percent of its daily gross profit, multiplied by the number of days its license was scheduled to be suspended.” — Chris Furnari, Brewbound

Read more here: http://www.brewbound.com/news/boston-globe-craft-beer-guild-to-pay-2-6-million-in-fines