Coors beer was not illegal in Texas, but there were certain restrictions and challenges that Coors faced in distributing their beer in the state. One of the main reasons for these challenges was the fact that Coors beer was not pasteurized.
Coors beer, unlike many other beers on the market, was not pasteurized. Pasteurization is a process that involves heating beer to kill any bacteria or microorganisms that may be present. This process helps to extend the shelf life of the beer and allows it to be stored at room temperature without spoiling. However, Coors chose not to pasteurize their beer, which meant that it had to be kept chilled at all times until it was consumed.
This posed a logistical challenge for Coors, as they had to ensure that their beer remained chilled throughout the distribution process. Coors could only guarantee this in their regional area, which mainly covered the western United States. As a result, Coors beer was not widely available in the East and other parts of the country.
Furthermore, the lack of pasteurization also had implications for tax collection. In many states, including Texas, alcohol taxes were collected based on the volume of beer sold. However, since Coors beer was not marketed in the East, there was no provision for collecting state alcohol taxes on shipments of Coors beer. This created a situation where Coors could potentially evade paying state taxes on their beer sales.
These factors contributed to the challenges that Coors faced in distributing their beer in Texas and other parts of the country. However, it is important to note that Coors eventually expanded its distribution and overcame these challenges. Today, Coors beer is widely available throughout the United States, and pasteurization is now a common practice in the beer industry.
Coors beer was not illegal in Texas, but it faced restrictions and challenges in distribution due to its lack of pasteurization. The need for constant refrigeration and the potential tax implications made it difficult for Coors to distribute their beer outside of their regional area. However, over time, Coors was able to overcome these challenges and expand its distribution nationwide.