FREE BEER FLOWS NO MORE

In the current economy job perks are few and far between. Throughout the world, companies have had to cut pensions and trim retiree benefits in order to stay afloat. But taking away free beer? That’s a tough one to swallow. Molson Canada will no longer supply its 24OO retirees with free beer, which currently costs the company about $1 million Canadian ($9OO,OOOUS) a year, the toronto star reported. Molson said it was looking to cut costs and to “standardize” its complimentary beer policy. The company’s retirees in Newfoundland and Labrador, for example, will see their monthly allotment fall from six dozen bottles of beer a month to zero over the next five years. That’s quite an extreme. Current Molson workers will still receive complimentary beer, but will see their allotment drop from 72 dozen bottles a year to 52 dozen. Unions have launched grievances in Montreal and Vancouver, where the retirees’ allotment is less than in Newfoundland. It’s enough to make you cry in your beer, if you had one.