• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

TTB accepts record $900,000 offer in compromise from Warsteiner Importers Agency for pay-to-play arrangements

May 16, 2018Keith Gribbins

briefcase money suit buyout
Is this enough?

Your friends at the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) have accepted a $900,000 offer in compromise from Warsteiner Importers Agency Inc. for alleged violations of the trade practice provisions of the Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA) Act. Apparently this is the largest single offer in “compromise” for trade practice violations accepted by TTB to date. Yikes.

Warsteiner Importers Agency Inc. is alleged to have engaged in “Tied House, Commercial Bribery and Exclusive Outlet violations that either placed or had the potential to place the retailer’s independence at risk.” This offer in compromise was submitted to settle all possible alleged violations, and the TTB accepted. Warsteiner Importers Agency Inc. is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and represents Warsteiner, Germany’s largest privately-owned brewery. According to the Cincinnati Business Courier:

Warsteiner paid for equipment for dedicated tap lines in a so-called “pay-for-play” arrangement, TTB spokesman Tom Hogue told me. It also paid for or sponsored events in exchange for exclusivity for its products, meaning other beer companies weren’t allowed to sell their products at those events. Hogue didn’t have specifics on which events those violations involved. Both are violations of trade practice laws.

The TTB would like to remind you that it remains committed to actively enforcing the trade practice provisions of the FAA Act so that consumers can continue to enjoy a wide selection of products and that industry members can compete for those consumers in a fair and open marketplace. Please visit www.ttb.gov for additional information on prohibited trade practices. And remember: Don’t do dumb shit like this.

TTB beer pay to play
TTB launches new pay to play investigation in Illinois
TTB pay to play investigation
TTB looking into pay-to-play scheme in Miami
ttb label penalty
Penalties for violating the Alcoholic Beer Labeling Act just went up
craft beer taxes
TTB simplifies excise tax regulations for small brewers

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Episode 229 - Party Occasions | The Craft Beercast says:
    May 24, 2018 at 7:02 pm

    […] Holy shit […]

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • How Virginia Beer Co. used the shutdown to overhaul its facility (and keep people employed)
  • Craft Malt Conference goes virtual in February, here’s the agenda
  • Firestone Walker just added a massive solar array and canopy on site
  • INDEVCO Plastics debuts 50 percent postconsumer recycled shrink wrap for beverage packaging

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • virginia-beer-co-renovationHow Virginia Beer Co. used the shutdown to overhaul its facility (and keep people employed)
    January 19, 2021
  • Clean air, clean beer: New Ingersoll Rand oil-less reciprocating air compressors are ideal for breweries (aeration to canning)
    January 18, 2021
  • Non-alcoholic beer brand Athletic Brewing closes $17M+ in funding with famous backers, selects Crafted ERP, eyes big growth
    January 18, 2021
  • Watch: This awareness video on human trafficking from beer wholesaler Markstein Sales will move you to action
    January 14, 2021
  • Distribution updates: Massachusetts brewers celebrate franchise reform, Yuengling goes to Texas with Molson Coors and more from Bell’s, Stone and beyond
    January 14, 2021
  • COVID19 coronavirus mask moneyWhy you need to maximize engagement during a pandemic
    January 13, 2021

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2021 · CBB Media LLC

Continue ...

sponsored by