Shocking Report: Booze Wholesaler Representative Misrepresents Facts

Baby Girl Reacts In Shock and Surprise

I’m always intrigued when I see someone write or say something I know they know is untrue. The game I play is, “Guess the Motive”.

I played that game when I saw Jim Purucker’s editorial in Indiana newspapers that argued it is a strict three-tier system of alcohol distribution that prevents tainted alcohol from being distributed and consumed in the U.S. the way it has been reported to be a problem at Mexican resorts:

“It leads you to wonder, why don’t these things happen here? According to the Campaign for a Healthy Alcohol Marketplace, we have few problems with counterfeit and tainted alcohol because of our state-based, three-tier alcohol regulatory system….This closed distribution system helps prevent adulterated and contaminated products from reaching consumers because alcohol is required to go from a licensed manufacturer to a licensed distributor to a licensed retailer.”

It turns out that Mr. Purucker is the executive director of the Wine and Spirits Distributors of Indiana.

The way I know Mr. Purucker knows what he’s written is untrue is because Mr. Purucker is 1) an educated man, 2) because he understands how the American alcohol industry works and 3) because he knows that in those various states where a strict three-tier system is not enforced, we don’t have problems with tainted alcohol.

So, what could his motive be in making such a dubious claim?

First, I guess we should point out that Mr. Purucker’s job is to represent only one of the three tiers…the middle wholesaler tier. As a little reminder, in a strict three-tier system, producers (first tier) are REQUIRED to sell their wine at a severe discount to Mr. Purucker’s wholesalers (second tier). Also in a strict three-tier system that Mr. Purucker lauds in his editorial, retailers and restaurants (third tier) are REQUIRED to purchase their inventory from wholesalers.

So, let’s recap:

1-Mr. Purucker knows that a strict three-tier system does not protect consumers from tainted alcohol.

2-Mr. Purucker is advocating for a strict three-tier system.

3-Mr. Purucker represents the only level of the three tiers that benefits from a strict three-tier system.

It appears that Mr. Purucker is misstating the facts for the benefit of wholesalers, not for the benefit of the reading and drinking public.

SHOCKING!!!

 

 

 

 

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6 Responses

  1. Morrie Berez - March 27, 2018

    I think I would characterize this liar as “Mini-Trump” trying to emulate the Giant Liar, Big Donald Trump….Morrie Berez

  2. Helene - March 27, 2018

    I am well aware that in the USA one cannot use phrases that in the UK are common, but my comment would be, ‘No S*€v, S*∞^(0yk’. I could come up with yet more British comments, but they might be even less palatable. Does ‘What a load of rubbish?’ work as an almost acceptable comment? Or, is ‘Aargh’ better, if retro and USA-centric?

    In my opinion, not in any way humble, I think the three-tier system is simply protectionist.

  3. Bob Rossi - March 31, 2018

    And how would Mr. Purucker explain the presence of tainted water at some Mexican resorts? Do we have a 3-tier water distribution system in the US also?

  4. VVP (veux, veux-pas) - April 3, 2018

    “The dogs may bark, but the caravan moves on.” Why? Because Indiana’s tier two is government of Indiana. You may file complaint against government only to the government, but as “dog does not eat dog, wolves never prey upon wolves” and “the ravens don’t peck one another’s eyes out”.

    You will be even more shocking reading complete bullshit in the document below!

    http://www.wswa.org/DOJ_Antitrust_Roundtable_WSWA_Comments.pdf

  5. VVP (veux, veux-pas) - April 3, 2018

    “The dogs may bark, but the caravan moves on.” Why? Because Indiana’s tier two is government of Indiana. You may file complaint against government only to the government, but as “dog does not eat dog, wolves never prey upon wolves” and “the ravens don’t peck one another’s eyes out”.

  6. Jeremiah - April 4, 2018

    Indeed?! But TTB says it is TTB’s mission to protect the public and ensure that only qualified persons engage in the alcohol beverage industry.

    Does Mr. Purucker double ensure that TTB protects or he just pretends?


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