Bankruptcies hit US spirit makers as Americans drink and spend less

The coverage treats these bankruptcies as a lifestyle story, as if a shift in taste explains everything. But when distilleries fold, it is rarely just about Americans “drinking less.” It is about a business climate where costs rise, credit tightens, and policy choices make the ground less stable than it should be.

Trade is mentioned like background noise, even though export access and tariff policy can decide whether a small producer survives. Add inflation, higher borrowing, and compliance burdens, and you get fewer second chances for companies that are otherwise well run.

A conservative view starts with predictable rules and fair competition. If we want resilient domestic manufacturing, we need institutional stability, smarter regulation, and an economy that rewards saving and investment, not fragility.

The principle at stake is public trust in a system that lets producers plan, hire, and compete without Washington constantly changing the terms.