The latest faux outrage on the right is that Biden wants to take away our beer. Here’s the Fox News headline: Biden alcohol czar says US may follow Canada, limit beers to two a week: 'what a joke' The rare Fox News consumer that actually reads more than just the headline will find out that this headline is a lie.
Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) George Koob told the Daily Mail on Thursday that the U.S. may follow Canada's footsteps on alcohol guidelines… Currently, American guidelines recommend men limit themselves to two drinks per day while women should only have one drink. The American recommendations are up for review in 2025. Canada's guidelines recommend only having two drinks per week..."So, if [alcohol consumption guidelines] go in any direction, it would be toward Canada," Koob said.
So a scientific body will review some health guidelines in a couple of years, hardly breaking news. And certainly no one in the Biden administration is using government power to limit your choices around beer consumption.
In Wisconsin however, Republicans are doing exactly that. Minocqua Brewing Company in the great northwoods of Wisconsin ran a successful brew pub. In 2020, the owner placed a large Biden Harris
banner on the building. The area is a pretty red part of the state and it was great to see. A nice break from the huge bizarre Trump banners flying in other places nearby.
But the local government, dominated by MAGA types, couldn’t tolerate a successful business run by vocal supporters of Biden/Harris. They worked furiously to obstruct and undermine the business. The owner of Minocqua Brewing meanwhile started a PAC targeting Wisconsin Republicans, and it became quite successful. From Minocqua Brewing:
The Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC has filed our first report to the FEC, and in that report we will announce that we’ve raised over $221,000 in six months and the average contribution has been $32.
The report will also show that we’ve spent over $130K of your money on billboards, radio ads, phone calls, and podcasts to shine a light on the lies that the Trump Cult are telling voters in Northern Wisconsin, our state, and the rest of the country.
The fight escalated and the local government good old boys network leaned on other businesses to not sell Biden Beer, Kamala Stout, Bernie Beer or any other Minocqua Brewing product. In fact, the only place you could buy the beers locally besides the brewery was from businesses on nearby Lac Du Flambeau Band of Ojibwa land where the good old boys hold no sway. From an article in Native News Online:
As to why local business owners refuse to sell Minocqua Brewing Company’s beer, “it’s because I’m progressive,” Bangstad said. “The ‘old boys network’ in northern Wisconsin is against me.” Bangstad took the issue to social media, announcing an opportunity to not only sell the company’s products, but to have exclusive rights to the popular beer.
The Lac du Flambeau Country Market responded to Bangstad's call for a local retailer the next day.
“Our team noticed the post the morning the Minocqua Brewing Company shared they were looking for help to sell their beer,” said LDF Country Market Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Zach Allen to Native News Online. “We discussed amongst our team that it would be a good opportunity to help out a local business that has dealt with some of the same issues that we have dealt with, in regards to discrimination and hate from some in northern Wisconsin.”
The targeting of Minocqua Brewing escalated and by last month the Republicans in local government, using obscure rules not enforced against other businesses, ordered the closure of the business. From Local media ABC station coverage:
Oneida County supervisors on Wednesday night revoked Minocqua Brewing Company’s permit to do business and ordered the brewery to close its doors.
Luckily Minocqua Brewing has resources. And sued. And the Republican bullies quickly backed down, reversing themselves. For now, Minocqua brewing remains open. From local CBS station coverage:
The Minocqua Brewing Company, led by its owner Kirk Bangstad, has formally filed a lawsuit against the Town of Minocqua and several key figures, alleging violations of both the U.S. Constitution and Wisconsin state law.
In a statement to NewsChannel 7, Bangstad commented, “This isn’t just about a business; it’s about standing up for the core values that our nation was built on. We cannot stand by and let our constitutional rights be trampled upon.”
The lawsuit, rooted in the protection of individual and business rights, claims a continued pattern of authoritarian conduct, retaliation, harassment, and intimidation by the defendants.
Authoritarian conduct to limit our choices of beer, to shut down businesses. That is textbook 2023 Republicans. No loyalty to the traditional Republican values of “pro-business” and “personal freedom” or “free market.” Just MAGA, whatever that means.