$1.5m program to put Victorian drinks back in pubs and bars

The Victorian Government has launched an initiative that aims to get more locally produced drinks into the state’s bars and restaurants, with Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas announcing $1.5 million of funding for the Drink Victorian program at the official opening of the Australian Craft Beer Centre of Excellence in Ballarat.

“The Drink Victorian program will give more Victorians access to the exceptional drinks we produce in our state. This is an exciting step for the industry and consumers, and will provide a major boost for regional jobs.”

The Victorian Drinks Alliance — a collaboration between Victorian beverage producers and Food and Drink Victoria — developed the program to build domestic demand for locally produced drinks, in response to the challenges faced during the pandemic.

The program has been funded by the state government through the recently launched Food to Market program and the Small Scale and Craft program, with additional support from Global Victoria. The Food to Market grant program is one of the key initiatives being rolled out as part of the government’s transformative Agriculture Strategy, demonstrating a commitment to supporting small-scale and craft businesses.

The newly opened Australian Craft Beer Centre of Excellence builds on a rapidly growing interest in brewing beer. The centre includes a craft brewery, a beer tasting and bar area, a teaching space and a function area. Working closely with Federation University in Ballarat, the centre’s ‘brew space’ will provide an opportunity for small brewers to hone their craft and to also receive advice on how to develop their businesses.

“This Australia-first collaboration has one clear goal — to encourage and enable our bars, restaurants, clubs and consumers to join us and drink Victorian,” said Wine Victoria Chair and Victorian Drinks Alliance Co-Chair Angie Bradbury.

 Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/pavel siamionov