Keeping these clean is no longer verboten.

A few weeks back I reported that the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) had ruled that tap line cleaning was considered an inducement and therefore a prohibited activity by breweries and agents (read post for full details).

I learned yesterday that last Friday, the AGLC sent a memo to license holders that due to feedback from producers and bar owners they have reversed that decision. In the memo they recognized “the need to provide this service to ensure the freshest and best tasting product to consumers”.

However, they have placed new stipulations on the provision of tap cleaning. Producers (and agents) can perform the cleaning themselves or contract to a cleaning service that is unconnected to the pub/restaurant. If the premise conducts its own line cleaning – either through a service or themselves – the producer cannot re-imburse them for the cost.

The revised policy, in my opinion, strikes the right balance and has a tone of common sense to it. Big players, like the chain pubs and craft beer bars with 30 or more taps are doing their own line cleaning now. It makes economic sense for them to contract to do all their lines on a regular basis. Who was affected by the ban were smaller pubs and restaurants – the small neighbourhood pub with a handful of taps and not tonnes of cash flow. They don’t have the resources to do it themselves and it is in the brewery’s interest to keep the lines clean.

Offering cash to the big players to compensate them for the costs of line cleaning really is a form of inducement not dissimilar to paying for taps. Sending a brewery staffer around to clean lines at small bars is really just an extension of quality control.

I commend the AGLC for amending the policy in response to industry feedback. It is a hopeful sign that the AGLC may be building a new relationship with the industry players.

Now if we can only do something about the lack of regulation around serving sizes in this province (for that particular pet peeve of mine, read this post).