[1] Distributors stated that the law was required to prevent producers from severing ties with Illinois distributors and "outsourcing" their deals, ostensibly resulting in thousands of job losses throughout the state.
In 2000, a judge granted them preliminary injunctions, saying that the law violated the Commerce Clause of the U.S.
[1] An earlier, similar law,[1] the Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act (which dated to 1982), resulted in a popular Michigan microbrewer, Bell's Brewery, getting into a dispute with their distributor and pulling their products from the Illinois market entirely in protest in 2006.
Nevertheless, Bell stated at the time that he expected "to be sued by his former distributor, National Wine & Spirits.
"[7][8] Initially, only the Royal Amber Ale was made available, in draft only, at about a dozen Chicago-area locations.