State Wants Craft Brewers To Keep Info On Every Person They Sell Beer To

Why would the state need to know your name, phone number, where you live, wand how old you are when you buy beer? It’s unclear, but that kind of detailed info is exactly what Alabama regulators have proposed craft brewers collect from anyone buying beer to bring home.

The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is considering a new rule [PDF] what would require brewers to collect that kind of information from anyone who purchases beer at a brewery for off-premise consumption, the Associated Press reports, and industry groups are not pleased: they’re calling it an invasion of privacy, and an administrative nightmare.

“As nonsensical as it might seem, this rule would essentially empower the ABC Board to come to an individual’s house to confirm his or her purchase of a six pack of beer,” Nick Hudson of Free The Hops, a grassroots organization, said in a statement this week.

The Alabama Brewers Guild also chimed in, saying collecting that kind of information would be a complicated endeavor, and could pose concerns about potential data breaches and government use of the information as well.

Regulators haven’t explained why it wants this information but ABG says the information would be used to verify enforcement of the state’s 288-ounce limit on the amount of brew anyone can purchase at one time.

“Individuals may not purchase more than 288 ounces a day from a brewery, and this provision would help the ABC Audit Division to ensure compliance,” the group said in a statement Thursday (h/t AL.com). “The ABC is trying to do their job, and we understand the reasoning. However, we believe there are less invasive ways to ensure compliance.”

The group says it will work with the ABC during this process, and will be submitting written input as part of the public comment period, which lasts through Sept. 7. The rule will be considered by the board on Sept. 28.

In June, a law took effect in the state that lets craft breweries sell six-packs, large bottles, and other containers of beer like growlers to consumers, as long as they stayed within limit of 288 ounces.