AB Busted in Seattle Pay-to-Play Sting

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the company behind "America", has run afoul of American liquor law. AB has been slapped with a $150,000 fine and either another $1000 waiver or a three-day suspension for "allegedly treating two concert venues in Seattle, Showbox and Showbox Sodo, like tied houses, paying the venues for an exclusive promotional fee for an alleged quid-pro-quo for (wink wink) product exclusivity," according to a BeerNet report.

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board arranged a sting at the Showbox and determined that the venue had an unlawful agreement to only serve AB products, a tactic seen from macro and craft brewers alike as competition for taps becomes increasingly hard-fought.

Regarding the matter, AB released the following statement: "AB does not agree with the allegations in the Notice. AB met with the state recently and will continue to respond to the Board in a timely manner."