Portsmouth Brewery Cancels Free Beer for Voters

Besides deciding one of the closest Presidential elections in recent memory, Portsmouth voters thought they had another reason to go to the polls - free beer courtesy of Portsmouth Brewery.

But the offer that was originally made by Smuttynose Brewing Co. in its October newsletter had to be rescinded before the first free pint was ever poured after the company such a reward would violation Federal Election Commission laws, according to JT Thompson, Smuttynose Brewing Co.'s minister of propaganda.

Originally, Thompson said Portsmouth Brewery wanted to give patrons a free pint of beer on Election Day who bore the "I voted today" sticker handed out by Portsmouth ward officials to voters who cast ballots.

Thompson said the company promoted the event on its Facebook page and was all set to deliver until they received a message from one Facebook follower making them aware that it would constitute a felony. The follower even included a link to a recent "Politico" article that talked about how other companies like Starbucks and Capitol Brewing Co. in Washington, D.C., wanted to give voters similar rewards.

Thompson said federal law and New Hampshire prevent establishments from giving voters free alcohol as motivation to vote or even as a reward because it is interpreted as "vote buying."

"Portsmouth Brewery has prided itself for 21 years on being a good neighbor in the community and we didn't want to commit a felony," he said.