How bad has the coronavirus pandemic been for South Carolina’s craft breweries?
Tidal Creek Brewhouse looks to be Myrtle Beach’s newest local brewery, but it’s opening date could fall in an unprecedented time for South Carolina and its craft beer industry.
Restaurants and bars remain closed with thousands of workers without jobs in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Alcohol laws were relaxed to allow for curbside pick-up of beverages, but even more rule changes could be needed to keep local beer in production during the crisis.
Eighty percent of South Carolina’s craft breweries cannot survive more than three months under current coronavirus conditions, according to a release from the SC Brewers Guild.
Tidal Creek President Dara Sawczuk said The Market Common beer and coffee shop’s opening day depends on when quarantine measures end, allowing bars to reopen.
Many of South Carolina’s craft breweries like Tidal Creek are locally owned and community institutions. Sawczuk is already receiving community support despite not being open, and she hopes future pandemic regulation changes benefits these local establishments.
“A lot of these breweries don’t have a corporation behind them to help them succeed. They’re mom and pop shops,” Sawczuk said.
Tidal Creek could start doing curbside pick-up of its beer ahead of fully opening, a service that is temporarily legal to help businesses survive the pandemic. Breweries are allowed to keep making beer through the pandemic.
While they’re being allowed to continue working, Brewers Guild Executive Director Brook Bristow said a survey of craft breweries showed a massive downturn in sales that could result in industry-wide closures.
The guild surveyed 92 breweries and brewpubs across the state to see how coronavirus is affecting business. Responses indicated that on average brewery sales were down by 70 percent with almost half of breweries reporting an even larger decrease in sales.
Seventy percent of breweries have had to furlough staff. Thirty-five percent have halted production while 60 percent have decreased how much they’re making, according to the study.
The downturn has resulted in 15 percent of breweries responding that they will not last until the end of the month.
Bristow said craft breweries employ nearly 5,000 people and contribute nearly $800 million to the economy. That doesn’t include farmers, bottle makers and other industries that support craft brewing, he added.
“It’s a driving industry and a new industry,” Bristow said. “It’s a growing industry and certainly deserves the chance to compete.”
The guild has asked its members to reach out to local leaders and representatives seeking relaxed rules from the Department of Revenue for alcohol delivery to customers in quarantine.
Ultimately, Bristow said he would like to see bars, breweries and bottle shops able to offer delivery to customers for the remainder of the crisis. The guild put together a proposal that would allow for delivery that makes sure taxes are paid and that the alcohol doesn’t end up in underage hands.
The governor’s office was helpful in allowing breweries to keep people employed and allow for curbside pick-up, Bristow said, but he hopes the government will do one more thing to help the local beer industry.
Sawczuk said the guild and governor’s office is listening to the concerns of brewers and trying to improve the situation. Having the ability to deliver alcohol would help their new location.
It’s a precarious time to open a new business, but Sawczuk appreciates the community and government supporting the new brewhouse. She said local support coupled with the government allowing breweries to sell more alcohol will give these local businesses a better chance to stay open.
“That’s why the Brooks and the guild are doing a great job to make sure certain policies get passed to keep these small breweries alive,” she said. “Just the fact they’re making accommodations to save mom and pop breweries is fantastic for us.”
