Amid recent sexual harassment allegations in the craft brewing industry, the Brewers Association announced a new coalition to "provide the resources and support that businesses and individuals in the brewing industry need to create and maintain a culture of safety, inclusion and equity."

The coalition consists of BA, the American Society of Brewing Chemists, the Craft Beer HR Professionals Group, the Master Brewers Association of the Americas and the Pink Boots Society, an association for women professionals in the brewing industry.

BA's May 19 announcement came amid a deluge of social media posts alleging sexual harassment and assault in the craft beer industry, the news site Brewbound reported. The Boulder, Colo.-based BA also received three complaints during the week ending May 21 about behavior that violates its member code of conduct, which was created in 2020, according to Brewbound.

"Breweries, distributors, suppliers, and all businesses within the industry must be safe places that encourage respect, empowerment and freedom from harassment or discrimination of any kind," BA's statement said. "We at the Brewers Association want to make it clear that we condemn any act of assault, harassment, violence, bigotry, discrimination or inequity."

The social media floodgates opened when Brienne Allan, a production manager for Salem, Mass.-based Notch Brewing, wrote in a May 11 Instagram post: "What sexist comments have you experienced?" Within 10 days, Allen had shared more than 1,000 stories—mostly from women—alleging harassment and abuse in the restaurant and beer industries, Brewbound reported.

The accusations have led the founders of two breweries—one in San Diego and the other outside Philadelphia—to resign from their leadership posts, according to Brewbound. Various breweries have fired employees, launched investigations and issued apologies, the news site reported.

BA said it will add resources and speakers to address the topic at the Craft Brewers Conference September 9-12 in Denver, and MBAA will continue the conversation at its fall conference.

The association encouraged its members to take advantage of a 50% discount on the price of a WeVow membership, a sexual harassment consultant the association has worked with since 2019, according to WeVow's website. BA also asked members to launch a tool in which employees can anonymously report incidences of sexual harassment; share HR resources so the association can compile and share them with the community at large; and volunteer on a BA diversity, equity and inclusion subcommittee.

MORE CEO DATELINE:

• Tourism board group forms Canadian alliance
• National Grocers Association unveils new logo
• IFA Berlin is canceled, MWC Barcelona loses exhibitors
• Association finds 2020 political polling wildly missed the mark
• Tennessee enacts law requiring transgender signage for bathrooms