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"TheBeerNut":3kv9stlh wrote: Fair point. However, I think the Beaujolais buyer, or the person who'll specifically want a Californian chardonnay, not just any old Chablis, is the equivalent of the beer drinker who wants Fuller's Vintage, not just London Pride.

However, at the level where the distinction between a barleywine and a strong ale doesn't apply, the customer will not distinguish between a zinfandel and a cabernet shiraz either, IMO.[/quote:3kv9stlh]

We've probably diverted from the issue here. The point (IMO) is that wine is perceived as being a superior product so there are more people who are prepared to pay more money for wine more often. That's why specialist wine shops exist and specialist beer shops don't.

I work with a winebuff who is a very enlightened guy but he was a bit haughty when it came to beers. They are perceived as less complex and for the masses without any attempt to make a distinction between the supremely crafted beer and the mass produced swill. This guy said that if he wanted to drink a beverage that was 10% alcohol he'd opt for a wine. A beer of that caliber was out of the question.

Hi Guys,
I missed this thread (I was actually busy in work - honest!). Yes, someone DID post earlier that below cost selling affected Eurobeers; me! It was a direct quote (and headline) from Drinks Industry Ireland mag (vol 8; no. 1).
Part of it ran:
Quoting Barrry Fitzgerald (of Eurobeers):
"Below cost selling affected us so badly, and it affected our customers too"

and

"In a country of 4.5 million people, when you keep dropping 60,000 cases over a five-day period into the Irish market, it affects everybody".

[quote:3mzz0ldt]The point (IMO) is that wine is perceived as being a superior product so there are more people who are prepared to pay more money for wine more often. That's why specialist wine shops exist and specialist beer shops don't.[/quote:3mzz0ldt]
The main reason that specialist wine shops exist and specialist beer shops don't is that the former requires a licence which can be acquired for approximately €300 while the latter requires a licence which can be acquired for approximately €190,000.

It is a major dilemna when most of an off licence's income comes from mainstram products. Bills have to be paid as well. I think despite what we think the beers we seek are a niche but hopeufll growing market and whilst we seek them out all the time we are in a minority. I pick up some bargain beers in off licences but am prepared to pay a fair price for a decene product/quality beer. Obviously if multples are undercutting small outlets it may be a case of survival of the fittest and that it not a situation we would like to see. We know who wins in these cases, i.e. Tesco dominating lots of rural England where many villages apparently do not even have a shop or post office. There is a sinistet move in underprice selling by multiples and my main fear is as above. Welcome 1carrot2 to the site - we appreciate suppliers wit knowldegeable informative staff who take pride in what they sell like you do.