The Power is the Consumer - Keeping it Kosher Clip

Last week I was in kiddush, and there  was a fellow, and he said, "Rabbi,   why can't the OU just get an OU on this, this, and  this brand of whiskey or liquor?" The assumption   in his question was that the OU can influence  companies to get a hashgacha. Is that a wrong   assumption? The power of the OU is not the OU,  it's the consumer. Realize that on every product,   they probably have a website, you know,  "visit our website, comment. We welcome   your comments." Not that many people actually  contact the company. So every contact is measured   in thousands by them. If we, the consumer,  would demand certain things from companies,   they would likely respond. I worked with you  know many of the largest liquor companies.   The attitude that many have is an attitude  which we've taught them. We're going to buy   your product with or without the hechsher. The  liquor company had a lot of Jewish influence.   Many of the Jews who were in the industry said  it doesn't need a hechsher. And they're still   remembering those comments. If the consumer  says, "you know what, does it make sense that   for soda pop we insist on a hechsher and  for cookies we insist on a hechsher, but   we readily buy the liquor product which doesn't  have a hechsher?" You're voting with your feet.