re: Forcing Breweries to Use a Distributor

No reason except costs. If a brewery wants to hire sales and staff all those trucks and pay the fees associated with shelf space, then they should be able to go for it. A distributor, though, already has the investment in those costs and pays the sales staff to negotiate shelf space and the drivers to deliver and in some cases, deliver and refresh the shelves. There is an enormous cost associated with going it alone, but by all means, go for it. I don't support helmet laws either. People should be allowed to slam their heads into a brick wall or concrete pavement if they choose to.