If you can’t get your favorite craft cocktail at your local bar or restaurant, don’t blame the owner. There is a statewide breakdown in the distribution of liquor. With holiday celebrating right around the corner, the last thing local bar and restaurant owners need is to have their orders delayed. But, that is exactly what is happening with one of Michigan’s three liquor distributors being unable to deliver on its orders.
The State of Michigan ultimately controls the sale of hard liquor through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, but the the privatized warehousing and distribution system is where the current problem lies.
Carrie and Casey Harris, owners of Casey’s in Port Huron, told us that with the popularity of craft cocktails, specific products are needed to complete the recipe. That means it’s harder to make substitutions for unavailable ingredients. Bar and restaurant owners like the Harrises want to make their customers happy and give them what they want, but this distribution problem is making that harder.
Owners are generally hesitant to stock up on liquor because of the expense and space issues with having that type of inventory, but they haven’t had much choice this year. The Harrises told us that it has been a real headache for them and all other bars and restaurants, starting with Boat Week over the summer, and there is no end in sight until maybe early 2020. Businesses have been forced to adapt and are hoping that their customers understand the reason for the problem.
Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.
