Stop Monopoly Protection

The past week, a bill was introduced to both the Indiana House and Senate by two of Olinger’s major competitors, Monarch Beverage and National Wine and Spirits.  The legislation is an attempt to provide misguided special interest protection in two areas:

1.     It allows Monarch Beverage to distribute spirits for Gallo and for any other wine primary source supplier that carries spirits.  They are presently not allowed to do that according to current Indiana state law.   They want to distribute spirits while not allowing Olinger and National to sell beer.  This is not a level playing field.  This is clearly unfair special interest legislation that would drastically hurt our future spirits business.

2.    It will establish in statute, anti competitive protection, all but eliminating the opportunity for healthy competition and growth.  The suppliers would have little leverage to change wholesalers for non-performance.  Clearly not good for a free market, ultimately creating price increases to consumers.

Olinger is firmly against any legislation that does not give our company and other Monarch competitors, a level playing field.  We all need to be governed by the same laws and rules set by the state of Indiana.

In terms of any attempt to limit competition or alter the free market business landscape, we are again, firmly against any attempt that creates monopoly protection, limits competition and significantly eliminates our opportunity for growth.  Nothing short of a free market with open and healthy competition is acceptable.

Olinger stands firmly against this legislation as a member of a coalition that includes the following:

Diageo
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Indiana Retail Council
Indiana Wineries
Moet/Hennessy
Southern Wine & Spirits
Wine Institute

For additional information see www.stoptheindybailout.com