Today, Lagunitas’s parent company, Heineken USA, settled with the New York State Liquor Authority over 42 alleged violations of the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) law. It is alleged that Heineken USA essentially installed its proprietory BrewLock keg systems in retail establishments for free due to various reimbursement practices. The BrewLock systems are designed to only dispense beverages packaged in unique kegs that are only distributed with Heineken products.
“Our agency remains committed to rooting out anti-competitive practices that artificially restrict consumer choice and place small manufacturers at a disadvantage.” – Vincent Bradley, New York State Liquor Authority chairman