From “Beer Barons” to Antitrust Offenders: The Federal Alcohol Administration Act and United States Antitrust Policy That Impacted Breweries in Wisconsin

Abstract

This paper examines the brewing companies in Wisconsin that violated antitrust laws numerous times throughout the twentieth century by limiting competition and trying to organize monopolies by obtaining properties. The paper explains this by its focus on Wisconsin brewing companies before the start of Prohibition and the impact of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act and, to a lesser extent, the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts had on the brewing industry in the state after the repeal of Prohibition. The paper is based on work in primary sources such as Supreme Court cases, newspaper articles, and the three Acts mention before.