In Fla, JJ Taylor (in Tampa) and Jim Taylor (in St. Pete) each sold Corona biz to competing AB distribs Pepin and Great Bay reportedly for $23.50 per case. That followed sale in Jackson-ville earlier this year. And other Corona negotiations on west coast of Fla are ongoing.

Mega-Miller distrib JJ Taylor Dist (which sells a bit of Coors now too) is on acquisition binge on west coast of Fla. Just bought over

Tho total Boston Beer biz down 7% in 1st qtr, its keg biz actually up 3,000 bbls, 3.5%. Kegs jumped from 28% of Boston

Minn mkt had solid 109,000-bbl, 3.1% growth in 2000. AB grabbed most of that with 91,000-bbl, 6.6% growth. Jumped 1.4 share to 40.7. Meanwhile, Miller off 25,000 bbls, 2.1% and dropped 1.7 share to 32.6. Miller used to be #1 until 97. Pabst still had 9 share, but way off in 2000. Coors up double-digits, but still under 4 share.

Tex Miller distrib Lubbock Bev Co had deal to sell to Techtro 733,000 cases at $5.75 per case or $4.2 mil. But Miller nixed and LBC sued in state court. Charged Miller

Tuff Tex mkt in 1st qtr 2001. Total shipments down 150,000 bbls, 3.3%. But Miller Lite and Bud especially hard hit. Miller Lite down a whopping 101,000 bbls, 15% in Tex in 1st qtr. Bud down 62,000 bbls, 11%. Bud Light gained share but slowed to 22,000-bbl, 2.2% growth for 3 mos. And Coors Light up 6,000 bbls, 1.3%. All top brands faced difficult comparisons with 1st qtr last yr when 24 oz can ran rampant. Recent Coors Light struggles in Tex don

Amazingly, the whole 2d week of Maris trial spent with just 1 wit-ness, former Coors/Schlitz distrib Greg Margerum, who was from a different Fla mkt and has never served as expert witness before. Greg

Inevitable attacks on “malternatives” stepped up this week as CSPI and others jumped flavored malt bevs as “bridges to other forms of alcohol.” Critics want FTC and BATF to investigate whether suppliers targeting teens with these products. CSPI poll found 41% of 14-18 yr-olds had tried “an alco-hol pop drink.” That’s no different from the 40% or so of 12-17 yr-olds who say they had an alc bev of any kind in prior yr, according to govt surveys.

Heineken jumped 42,000 bbls, 15.6% in Mass in 2000 to 273,000 bbls. Heineken is # 4 supplier and grabbed 6.5 share there, up 0.9. AB up 37,000 bbls, 1.8% and held 50.3 share. Miller plunged 67,000 bbls, 14% and dropped 2 share to 11.3 without Molson. Coors up 29,000 bbls, 8% and climbed to 8.5 share. Molson fell 9,000 bbls, 18%, but still does 50,000 bbls in Mass. That

While state trial underway, fed judge just rejected Maris bid to replay anti-trust charges in fed court. In same order, judge did reduce costs Maris owed AB from $227K to $190K. (One cost Maris still has to pay: $1,235.52 for August III to travel