Mayor Jackson: Don't Restrict Southbound Brewing Co.'s Business Practices

NOTE: The proposed City Council restriction on the educational tours and tastings ordinance (which is already Georgia State Law) would prevent all Savannah breweries from hosting private events (including future breweries for Coastal Empire Brewing Co and Service Brewing Co.).
Southbound Brewing Company is a new brewery in Savannah, Georgia, and the city is voting on an ordinance on August 22, 2013 that would restrict their business practices, such as private events and possibly educational tours of the brewery. However, Georgia State Law allows for all Georgia breweries to conduct tours and have private events. Why should Southbound Brewing Co.'s business practices be hindered? It's unfair and would make Savannah an unfavorable place for other potential breweries to open. Breweries are job producers and good for the growing artisan and “support local” movements. Also, breweries are statistically shown to be charitable. Southbound for example donates their spent grain to the Bethesda Boys Academy, and 100% of production breweries give to charity organizations and participate in fundraising events for charities. 47% of our production breweries report that they regularly volunteer and in Georgia alone craft breweries reportedly donated $172,000 to charity organizations in 2012. I am a craft beer lover, small business advocate and want to see Savannah thrive and believe having a stronger craft beer scene will help our local economy and culture.

To read the state law, copy and paste this link: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/560/2/7/01.pdf.