Category: Legislative & Regulatory
News relating to the state and federal politics of beer and regulatory structure
News Massachusetts Considers Doubling States Excise Tax on Alcohol
Massachusetts Rep. Kay Khan has introduced a bill that would double the state’s excise tax on alcohol. The taxes, she said, could net $435 million in revenue to fund public health programs, including some for substance abuse.
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News NBWA Kicks Off Annual Conference with New Vison for the Future – Takes Swipe at BA
The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) kicked off its 84th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas on Sunday, marking the first time NBWA members have been able to assemble in person since the onset of the pandemic.
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News Will Biden Executive Order to Reduce Competition in the Alcohol Industry Get Anywhere?
The United States is the most profitable market for beer, wine and spirits producers in the world. But it is fragmented and covered by a maze of regulations that vary state by state. President Joe Biden could be about to change all that, so states an article in The Drinks Business.
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News SF Imposes Proof of Vaccination to Enter On-Premise Establishments – Other Cities May Do the Same
In a move that will includes brewery tasting rooms and brewpubs, San Francisco will require customers to show proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 to enter on-premise dining and drinking establishments as well as gyms and other indoor venues. The requirement will take affect starting Aug. 20th for patrons and Oct. 13th for employees.
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News Recent White House Executive Order on Competition and Implications for the Alcohol Beverage Industry
In response to a recent Executive Order from the White House on promoting competition in the American market, the Treasury Department last week issued a request for information to solicit comments about the current market structure and competition in the U.S. beer, wine, and spirits markets.
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News BI Survey Says Most Drinkers Support Nutrition Labels on Beer
According to the Beer Institute, a July 2021 poll conducted by Quadrant Strategies, 75% of Americans age 21 and older said they believe alcohol beverages should have nutrition labels. 60% say they are more likely to purchase an alcohol beverage that provides this information.
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News TTB Seeks Input on Promoting Competition – Brewers Can Submit Comments
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.
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News A Peek Ahead: The Future of Cannabis and the Beer Industry
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.
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News What’s In a Name – Trademark Suits Swirl Around Canopy
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.
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News Kris Spaulding Elected as New BA Board Member
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.
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News New Jersey Becomes Battle Ground in Effort to Lower RTD Taxes
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.
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News Violation of Franchise Laws Costs Jägermeister $12 Million
Posted by Tom McCormick
Have you ever wondered what the penalty might be if a alcohol beverage manufacturer lost a court case against a wholesaler in a franchise dispute? It doesn’t happen often that franchise disputes go before a jury, but in Missouri court case, the cost was high. Jägermeister was been found guilty of violating a contract with their distributor Major Brands Inc, with a jury awarding nearly $12 million in damages to Major Brands.
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