State regulated cleaning

[Draught Prophet]

I'm looking for information on state regulated cleaning; where your state makes line cleaning mandatory. Our region is looking at it and has asked me to source some info.

Some questions:

• What states is it mandatory in?
• How do they enforce it?
• What are the regulations? (How often, what chemical, who does it...)

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to post here or email me direct by clicking here.

Thanks in advance.

[TAPMAN]

Pennsylvania requires lines, faucets, and connections to be cleaned every seven days.Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement(BLCE) enforces this regulation. This agency consist of Pa. State Police that are assigned to enforce LCB laws.The law requires that a record be kept of the cleanings, as well as the method used,(chemical, sponge, glass beads,etc.) The law states that steam or soda be used, but was written before the chemicals and methods that are used now were available.The state or local health dept. also monitor this during their yearly inspections.The LCB/BLCE are allowing the use of the electronic devices (BLM), but has not changed the law's wording. They are supposedly watching these devices for there effectiveness. Tapman (Phil Denenberg, Denenberg Tap Service)

[happytappy]

No regs in Michigan, however it is illegal for a distributor to do cleanings based on the liquor control act. There have been some rumblings about a mandated interval but I have not heard anything for over 6 months.

[razzmatazz]

The state of Ohio mandates that cleanings be done every two weeks; "Beer lines must be cleaned every two weeks OR at intervals reccomended by the beer manufacturer or his represenative, the wholesale beer distributor OR you must clean them at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer of the coil equipment OR you must clean them at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer of the chemical cleaner used." Two weeks is the standard, except for some of the bigger accounts (ballparks, arenas). In my 9+ years of cleaning lines in Ohio, only 2 accounts of mine have ever been "checked on". We used to have to send in $25 for a "license", (w/out a test taken, by the way) to the Division of Liquor Control, but they stopped doing that in 1999, I believe. So basically, it is unenforced, yet the bar owners are responsible enough to pay for the service. Distributors are not allowed to clean lines.
Kentucky, is a different deal. There is no law stating that coils have to be cleaned. There are still acoounts in the area I service whom do not have there lines cleaned, but the problem has been dwindling in the past few years. I offer a two week service interval, no more, no less, and quite a few establishments either disregard the facts or find another cleaner (there are companies whom offer a monthly service), or don't clean them at all. Distributors were not allowed to clean lines up until 2005, I believe, but to the best of my knowledge, they are now legally allowed, although it was done in the past by them anyhow.
I look forward to seeing more posts on this subject, I think its an interesting one. Good question!

[edramshaw]

There are no regulations in NH, Massachusetts is twice a week and Connecticut is once a week (required by law).

[TAPMAN]

Originally Posted by edramshaw

There are no regulations in NH, Massachusetts is twice a week and Connecticut is once a week (required by law).

Massachusetts is TWICE per week??? Holy moly

[edramshaw]

I know......

[Draught Prophet]

Thanks guys, this is great; keep the info coming. As much detail about the regs as possible will help, like do they require a certain type of cleaning or chemical? Again, feel free to email me.

I'm surprised that there is no one group to lead the better draught movement. I recently joined the Draught Beer Guild and can hopefully get some info there as well.

Stating the obvious, I'm certain that it is in everyone's (including MicroMatic’s) best interest to get these laws into place. Not only to preserve the integrity of draught beer, but to grow all of our business as well.

I know that the breweries are behind having a consistent regulation that requires line cleaning. It's in their best interest. Draught is one of only a few products where how the customer (account) delivers it to the end user (consumer) reflects back on the brewer, not the account. If the account serves old code beer, through dirty lines, the brewer is the one to blame in the consumer’s eyes. "This brand tastes like hell. I'm not drinking this again."

The problem is that the brewers can not push the legislation because they will be the bad guys. "What, your making me do this and it's going to cost how much?!" I can hear the licensees switching brands now. Funny how in some states, here in Ontario too, that line cleaning is considered inducement. The AGCO (Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario) turns a blind eye as most of the micros are doing their own lines. The macro brewers don’t want to get into the line cleaning business, but they want the laws in place.

Either way, after seeing what comes out of the lines during a proper (re-circulating pump) cleaning, I can tell you that most people wouldn’t drink draught if they knew the account wasn’t cleaning their lines. Even just taking the faucets off is shocking. At least now I can drink a pint from clean lines in my accounts.

Thanks again for the info.
Cheers,
Steve

[TAPMAN]

I fogot to mention the fact that in PA. the beer dist. are not allowed to do the cleaning. In fact, by law,they are only allowed to replace keg couplers and tap markers, and nothing in between. Most will do more than that, but no way to really stop that unless you are willing to report that to tle BLCE which would also get the tavern owner in trouble. Tapman

[dougg]

I don't believe any cleaning is required by law in New York state although there are rumblings that it could happen.

The Wholesalers in this area aren't supposed to clean the lines on any regular basis but are permitted to clean them related to a trouble call from a customer. I know one situation where they had complaints from draught beer drinkers that the beer smelled and tasted badly. There were going to have me clean their lines but declined after they were able to get a Wholesaler to do it as a trouble call for nothing.

I guess the strategy for this customer (a major hotel chain) is to get it done for free by a wholesaler whenever they have complaints from draught drinkers. Otherwise, they don't clean them at all.

The information I've been exposed to so far indicates to me that either Wholesalers, or people who formerly worked for Wholesalers, still do a majority of the line cleaning in this area as a sideline business (not officially connected with work a Wholesaler).

The main problem with the business of independent line cleaning in this area is that many people don't clean their lines at all. I know one bar that just had one of the Wholesalers replace their lines related to a trouble call. They did it for no charge. It's hard to compete against FREE :-) . Also, customers who do get their lines cleaned are used to a really low price because these people have money from a full time job coming in so they don't need to charge that much .... it's extra money. Also, many customers who do have their lines cleaned won't do it more than once a month.

Unless something changes in this market, I'm thinking I'll do it the way it has been done in the past in this area ... as a sideline. I could change my mind if I can come up with enough customers who will pay a decent price and have their lines done every 2-3 weeks. The jury is definitely still out.

Thanks,

Dougg

Originally Posted by Draught Prophet

I'm looking for information on state regulated cleaning; where your state makes line cleaning mandatory. Our region is looking at it and has asked me to source some info.

Some questions:

• What states is it mandatory in?
• How do they enforce it?
• What are the regulations? (How often, what chemical, who does it...)

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to post here or email me direct by clicking here.

Thanks in advance.

[wineglow]

There is a law in NYS but it is not enforced Please refer to this article in Cheers Mag Adams Market Research Alcohol Beverage Industry


It is my understanding that in NYS a wholesaler can't clean lines if there is a company in the area which cleans lines.

[TAPMAN]

I forgot to mention that in PA., the bar owner is allowed to clean their own lines, but a record still must be kept,(easy to fudge),and the man would want to see the equipment that is used. Tapman