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In response to a recent Executive Order from the White House on promoting competition in the American market, the Treasury Department has issued a request for information to solicit comments about the current market structure and competition in the U.S. beer, wine, and spirits markets.
Read more...The recent proposal in Congress to decriminalize cannabis is the latest step forward in legalizing the drug nationally. Even if Congress doesn’t pass the current legislation, it is only a matter of time before it does. Eighteen states currently allow recreational cannabis.
Read more...During the burgeoning growth spurt of the last 10 years there have been numerous lawsuits in the craft brewing industry over beer names. That seems to have calmed down, but bigger stakes abound in the industry. Canopy Growth, the Canadian cannabis company, is being sued by Remy Cointreau at the same time as Canopy’s biggest shareholder, Constellation Brands, is in a fight with Anheuser Busch InBev over the right to use the Corona brand name in the alcoholic flavored water sector.
Read more...The Biden administration has issued an Executive Order intended to promote competition in the economy which could have an impact on the alcohol beverage industry that would benefit small craft producers.
Read more...The state budget that was signed by Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont last month will reduce the state excise tax on beer by 16.7%.
Read more...Craft distillers in Indiana scored a big win this week when a bill was passed allowing distillers to label their product with the term “Indiana Rye” whiskey.
Read more...George Stranahan, who founded Flying Dog Brewery in Aspen, Colorado in 1994, has died at 89.
Read more...The Brewers Association has announced that Kris Spaulding, owner and president of Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids, Mich., has been elected to serve as a pub brewery representative on the Brewers Association Board of Directors, according to a BA statement. Her term starts immediately and expires February 2023. The next association board meeting will be June 30 and July 1, an in-person meeting in Boulder, Colorado.
Read more...Spirits companies have been fighting for lower excise taxes for decades. Citing “equivalency” as a reason to reduce the much higher state and federal tax on liquor, they have had little to no success. But now that RTD’s (ready-to-drink spirits-based cocktails) are booming in the marketplace, the spirits industry may be at it again. And since RTD’s are generally about or only slightly higher in alcohol than beer and look like beer (usually in 12-ounce cans), they may have a stronger argument.
Read more...Direct from the source, the TTB shares some tips for how to avoid some of the common problems they see on applications for malt beverage label approval and beverage formula approval.
Read more...Legislation was introduced yesterday in Washington DC that would allow the USPS to ship alcohol in states where it is currently legal to do. The United States Postal Service (USPS) Shipping Equity Acy was introduced by Representatives Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
Read more...Texas Governor Abbott has signed HB 1094 into law making permanent restaurants’ ability to sell alcohol with pickup and delivery food orders.
Read more...The Beer Institute, which represents the large brewers and beer importers in the U.S announced it has named Troy Wittek as director of research. Troy will add depth in data analysis and research to the Institute.
Read more...A bill that would expand self-distribution rights for brewers in Tennessee has passed the legislature and sits on the governor’s desk where it is expected to be signed.
Read more...A legislative bill in Minnesota to allow larger breweries to sell growlers has died.
Read more...The TTB has long prohibited any sort of health claim on alcohol packaging or advertising. The Center for Science in the Public Interest and Consumer Federation of America have submitted a letter to the Food and Drug Administration requesting that they bring enforcement action against Molson Coors for illegally misleading consumers with its Vizzy Hard Seltzer labeling and advertising campaign.
Read more...The beer industry could be facing a new legislative battle as spirits producers may begin working to lower state and federal excise taxes on ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs).
Read more...A bill in the West Virginia legislature to eliminate the state’s income tax would raise the excise tax on beer by 431%. The bill would increase the tax on beer from the current $5.58 per barrel to $29.25 which would be the fourth highest in the nation.
Read more...The excise tax on beer in Canada was increased today for the fifth time in four years, and the second time during the pandemic.
Read more...Senate Bill 219, which is making its way through the Georgia General Assembly, would allow the state’s breweries to transfer beer between locations and increase the amount of beer per year breweries can sell directly to customers.
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