Put Down That Coors: Why We Should Be Boycoting Big Beer

[marmar]

via AlterNet:



Put Down That Coors: Why We Should Be Boycoting Big Beer

By Benjamin Dangl, CounterPunch. Posted August 15, 2009.

One reason to boycott large breweries is the union busting, right wing culture that dominates some of the biggest breweries in America.




When Obama sat down for a beer in the White House Rose Garden with Professor Gates and Sergeant Crowley, they all turned their backs on the smaller, craft brewers of the country. Obama chose Bud Light, Gates asked for Red Stripe, and Crowley drank Blue Moon.

One of the major craft brewers based where I live in Vermont is Magic Hat, a brewery with a delicious array of brews. That brewery issued a press release following the "Beer Summit" explaining, "Craft Brewers the country over are chagrined by the President’s choice to consume a beer owned by a company based outside of America’s borders. Bud Light, owned by Belgium-based AB InBev, and Blue Moon, owned by London-based SAB MillerCoors, together control 94% of the beer market in the United States. However, the United States boasts over 1,500 craft brewers, the majority being made up of small Main Street Businesses that employ less than 50 people."

This encounter at the Rose Garden provides a perfect time to reflect on why we should all boycott the beer monopolies of the world.

One reason to boycott large breweries is the union busting, right wing culture that dominates some of the biggest breweries in America. Yuengling, America’s oldest brewery, and Coors, America’s biggest brewery, both offer insights into the ugly political and labor practices of this multi-billion dollar industry.

In 2007 Yuengling owner Dick Yuengling told his workers, "the writing was on the wall" and that if they didn’t get rid of the union he would close the brewery and open up shop in a location in the southern US where labor was cheaper. Faced with the choice of looking for work in an area with few jobs, the workers decided to kick the union out. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/workplace/141953/put_down_that_coors%3A_why_we_should_be_boycoting_big_beer/

[rurallib]

1. sorry I can only recommend this once

[greennina]

2. Why only big beer?

Why not boycot all of it? From Wikipedia:

"A life cycle study of one beer brand shows that the CO2 emissions from a 6-pack of micro-brew beer is about 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) -- including grain production, brewing, bottling, distribution and waste management. The loss of natural habitat potential from the 6-pack of micro-brew beer is estimated to be 2.5 square meters (26 square feet).

Downstream emissions from distribution, retail, storage and disposal of waste can be over 45% of a bottled micro-brew beer's CO2 emissions."

It's pretty bad stuff. Water is much healthier for us and for the planet.

[vadawg]

3. okay you drink water, ill stick to beer and you will be happy and i will be drunkinly happy

deal...

[Ikonoklast]

4. We should boycott all farmed foods then, using your logic.

After all, farming does far worse damage to native plants, animals, and their habitat and generates far more pollutants.

We should just forage for whatever edible sustenance we can find. Too bad most will die of starvation.

That will thin the human herd right right quick.

[truedelphi]

11. I don't know about U, but while I forage, I'll

Be drinking the beer.

No point starving in a totally miserable manner.

[Ikonoklast]

12. Sounds reasonable, but with one caveat.

If you are out scrounging around looking for that elusive Cool Ranch Dorito tree, I have some bad news for you.

You'll really get upset when you can't find a Salsa spring.

[truedelphi]

14. Perhaps I should not mention this, but Tequila

chasers often bring about Salsa Springs (Provided you have enough of them!)

[Ikonoklast]

16. I saw a Black Russian Geyser once.

Most impressive.

[Fla_Democrat]

25. I was foraging

I was foraging in the kitchen earlier..... found a cold slice of pizza, and a colder bottle of beer...... it's all in where you look. :toast:

[Robb]

6. The last sentence there is key

...We should choose, when we can, locally-produced foods to avoid the carbon footprint of the shipping/trucking/rail etc.

This can, and should, include beer. Unless you live in Golden, Colo., in which case sorry about that.

[Catshrink]

10. I believe in what Ben Franklin said.

Beer is a sign God loves us and wants us to be happy.

[surrealAmerican]

26. You have a point, but ...

... surely, if you are getting some of your calories from beer, you will be getting somewhat fewer of them from the food you eat, which also has an environmental cost.

[Strong Atheist]

30. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[XemaSab]

39. That's why I drink Sierra

http://www.sierranevada.com

[greguganus]

5. I can't give up my Yuengling. Sorry. (hiccup!) n/t

[tabasco]

43. Good stuff. Love Ying-Ling.

And I'm a real beer snob.

My homemade Pils is better!

[GoCubsGo]

7. Better yet...

Brew your own. It's not that difficult, and the results are usually superior to most of what "Big Beer" puts out.

BTW, Gates had a Sam Adams, not a Red Stripe...

[Catshrink]

8. mmmm Sam Adams

I wondered why no one was drinking a Boston brew. Sam Adams does not make a bad beer.

[FatDave]

45. I think the Boston Lager has a bit of a formaldehyde aftertaste.

But I love their Cream Stout and Brown. Black Lager's not bad either.

[Retired AF Dem]

50. I drank a four pack of their

dopplebock. I didn't like it. It had a sweet after taste. A very dark beer should be a bit bitter. Just my opinion of course.

[Catshrink]

9. dupe - click-happy this morning

[DireStrike]

13. So he writes this article with no list of major company brands

No link to a large beer company boycott that might include such a list.

So much opining and no organizing impulse at all. And we wonder why campaigns never get off the ground.

[asdjrocky]

15. I haven't touched Coors since the mid 80's.

[cherokeeprogressive]

17. For those who don't already know: Coors extends employee benefits to same-sex partners.

And has since 1995.

[SteveM]

19. After much protest by gay-rights groups (nt)

[SteveM]

18. Here in Texas, I only drink local brews. Coors funds anti-choice groups (nt)

[flvegan]

20. I already boycott Coors because it tastes like piss.

[SpookyCat]

34. Yes. Which reminds me of one of my favorite jokes...

Drinking Coors is like sex in a canoe...

Fucking close to water.

Ok it's juvenile, but still... :-)

[Release The Hounds]

21. Bud Light, Coors Light, etc, are not "beer".

[backscatter712]

22. I drink my town's local brews...

I'm from Fort Collins, so that gives me a hell of a lot of options... B-) :toast: :beer:

Start with New Belgium, a fine progressive, environmentally conscious brewing company - I'm a big fan of Fat Tire, Sunshine Wheat and 1554.

There's also Odell Brewing Company, and there I get Easy Street Wheat, 90 Shilling and 5 Barrel Pale Ale.

We do not discuss the facility out by Wellington, CO, except to say that we know by the flavor of the product why they have such big Clydesdales - they have to make a lot of beer...

Really, if you live in Colorado, there's no excuse for you to not drink good beer. Local beer. Small-brewery beer.

[The Gunslinger]

35. mmmmm Fat Tire Mothership Wit

That's good beer.

[Taitertots]

23. I'm not willing to pay $10 for a six pack

When I can get a 30 case for under $20.

[slampoet]

31. I drink Narragansett Beer. $4.99 for a 6 pack of JUMBOS. Better tasting than 90% of lagers and local

You can find cheap local beers.


Though i do miss when Strohs was locally owned.

[Release The Hounds]

24. But it's a catch 22

If he drinks a craft beer, he is further labeled an 'elitist'.

[MisterP]

27. also, they were a surprisingly large component of the "Reagan Revolution"

funding Regnery, the AEF, and North's fundraisers for UNITA, the Contras, and the mujahedeen
they even backed AEF and Edward Teller's High Frontier, the last gasp of the "spaceflight is the only reason life arose on the Earth" crowd (and even that focused on commie-bashing and assurances that capitalism is what the Third World really wants)
fortunately, this network of crapulence was so 80s it didn't make it into 1989: the 21st century is just left with its castoffs--roided-up bloodthirsty mercs, an inability to negotiate with foreigners or acknowledge when they're right, and a pants-staining fear of even being seen as socialist (even though the rest of the West is totally cool with that)

[MrScorpio]

28. I've been boycotting beer my entire life

Now liquor, on the other hand....

[slampoet]

29. That why i drink Narragansett Beer. Locally owned and soon to be locally brewed.

[Po_d Mainiac]

42. Ain't seen nastygannssett for decades!! n/t

[slampoet]

44. IT IS BACK! There is a guy who ressurected it and is trying to build a RI brewery for it.

[Po_d Mainiac]

47. Black Label, the nectar of my youth.

Natick will never be the same. Hey Mabel! :toast: Interesting/sad history link below.

http://heymabelblacklabel.com/id23.htm

[KamaAina]

32. Another reason: It's like having sex in a canoe

it's fucking close to water. :P

[pipi_k]

33. Catpiss in a bottle

I'll gladly boycott beer.

:puke:

[Cleita]

36. Only wine here from our local vineyards that are unionized. n/t

[tnlefty]

37. I just tried a Land Shark and I think that I can live with it!

And unless I was misinfomed a few days ago, Jimmy Buffett owns the brewery and he's no asshole.

Thanks for the info. and I'm glad that I tried the Land Shark. I was going to anyway, but seeing this pushed me to do it today. :beer: :beer: :beer:

[RB TexLa]

38. They are upset because President Obama consumed a beer owned by a company

based outside of the US? Do they think only the President or everyone in the US should not consume products made by companies based outside of the US? This anti anything that isn't "pure 'Merican" is really becoming a disgusting trend. We are a global family, people outside of the borders of the US are human beings just as good and deserving of anything as we are.

[Wednesdays]

40. Make your own beer! It's easy.

I've made European-style dark beer twice before, and it's delicious! :beer:

[BlooInBloo]

41. I know I don't buy anything from a company with over $2 market cap.

[RB TexLa]

49. LOL

[FatDave]

46. And here I was drinking micros just 'cause they taste better...

[fascisthunter]

48. Coors is a disgusting beer...

people drink it because it's cheap, popular and have gotten used to it's crappy taste.