Category: Legislative & Regulatory

News relating to the state and federal politics of beer and regulatory structure

News Industry Needs ‘Trustbusting’ – A Look at How the Industry Favors Big Beer

Posted by Tom McCormick

Ron Knox, a senior researcher at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, takes a deep dive in the beer industries three-tier system and how it favors the mega-large global brewers. A must read!
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News Tony Roberts to Leave Oregon Brewers Guild

Posted by Tom McCormick

Co-Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild Tony Roberts has said that he will step down from his position on July 30th. Tony has been co-director of the guild with Christina LaRue since early last year.
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News Ten Year Battle for Franchise Reform in MA May Be Over

Posted by Tom McCormick

A ten-year effort by craft brewers in Massachusetts to reform the state’s strict franchise laws appears close to ending successfully. A deal between craft brewers and state beer wholesalers is expected to pass a Senate floor vote this week before moving on to the governor for final passage.
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News California Governor Appoints New ABC Director

Posted by Tom McCormick

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced today the appointment of Eric Hirata as Director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, where he has been Chief Deputy Director since 2017. He will take the place of Jacob Appelsmith who served as ABC Director between 2011 and 2013 and again from June 2017 to July of this year when he retired.
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News TTB Deferment of Tax Filing & Payments Has Ended

Posted by Tom McCormick

The 90-day postponement period for federal excise tax filings and payments, as well as operational reports and other filings, announced by the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on March 31 has come to a close.
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News Indiana Brewers Guild Furloughs Staff

Posted by Tom McCormick

Like the Brewers Association, the national association representing the craft brewing industry, state guilds are feeling the financial pinch of the pandemic as well.
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News AB to Pay Record $5 Million Fine to TTB for Trade Practice Violations

Posted by Tom McCormick

Ever wonder how Anheuser-Busch products seem to be so often showcased in stadiums and other entertainment venues? This might provide a clue.
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News BA Hires Marc Sorini as Inside Counsel

Posted by Tom McCormick

The Brewers Association today announced the hire of Marc Sorini, J.D., as its first-ever in-house General Counsel.
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News Majority of Virginians Want Cocktails To-Go Permanently

Posted by Tom McCormick

Like many states, Virginia has temporarily authorized restaurants and bars to sell drinks to-go during the pandemic.
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News How Brewers Can Help the Retail Trade During the Pandemic Without Breaking the Law

Posted by Tom McCormick

The food and beverage industry laid off 5.5 million jobs in April alone and many breweries are looking at ways to help servers, bartenders, cicerones and others who were furloughed from the on-premise sector. Along with the lay-offs, many small on-premise businesses which have long supported craft brewers are also struggling to stay in business as the re-opening process begins.
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News Michigan Bill Will Double Self-Distribution Volume for Craft Brewers

Posted by Tom McCormick

Small breweries in Michigan could be able sell and deliver more beer to retail stores without having to go through wholesalers under legislation that cleared the Senate last week.
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News Iowa Shoots Down Tax Increase on Spirits

Posted by Tom McCormick

The alcohol beverage industry, nervous about the potential that states will attempt to raise alcohol excise taxes in order to back-fill revenue lost due to the coronavirus, won a small victory last week in Iowa. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division has backed off a major price increase for some products that it proposed to “reduce heavy drinking.”
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News House Passes Major Extension of PPP

Posted by Tom McCormick

The House passed a bill today that will give small business owners more flexibility in how they spend money from the Paycheck Protection Program.
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News Temporary Regulatory Relief May Become Permanent in Some States

Posted by Tom McCormick

Many states have temporarily suspended certain regulations such as curbside sales to go to help craft brewers survive the pandemic. In some cases, temporarily may become permanent.
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News California Allows Expanded Premises onto Sidewalks, Parking, Streets

Posted by Tom McCormick

The California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has issued a new temporary permit that will allow breweries and other on-premise licenses to serve alcohol beyond their licensed premise.
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News MN Bill to Provide Relief for Craft Brewers is Opposed

Posted by Tom McCormick | 4 Comments on MN Bill to Provide Relief for Craft Brewers is Opposed

Like all states, Minnesota’s stay-home order has forced breweries to close their tap rooms. For now, breweries can only sell beer in growlers and crowlers from the brewery for off-site sales while it is unlawful to sell beer in bottles or cans directly to customers from the brewery.
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News Alcohol Justice Protests Regulatory Changes to Help Industry

Posted by Tom McCormick

Alcohol Justice, the California-based alcohol industry watchdog group has written a letter to the California Department Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) protesting the ABC’s temporarily suspension of some alcohol regulations to help those in the alcohol beverage and hospitality industry stay in business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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News TTB Postpones Tax Payment and Other Filing Due Dates

Posted by Tom McCormick

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) announced today in a circular that they will be postponing several filing and payment due dates for 90-days where the original due date falls on or after March 1, 2020, through July 1, 2020.
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News Congress Close to Passing Economic Relief Package

Posted by Tom McCormick

The Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to address the economic crisis facing the country due to COVID-19.
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News Industry Experts Analyze the Alcohol Beverage Industry Crisis

Posted by Tom McCormick

A podcast featuring leading experts in the alcohol beverage finance, retail, distribution and manufacturing tiers speak about the new world in the beer business.
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News Brewers Association to Host Legal Options Webinar on Monday, March 23

Posted by Jeff Scott

The Brewers Association has announced an online webinar focusing on legal options for brewers in this time of crisis. Monday, March at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern. Details and a link to register can be found below.
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News California Craft Brewers Association Releases Statement on Speech by Governor Newsom on Latest Coronavirus Requirements for CA Breweries

Posted by Jeff Scott

The CCBA has released the following statement after California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press conference on the latest business changes in the state in response to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 crisis.
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News New York Looks at Doubling Tax on Beer

Posted by Tom McCormick

New York Assembly member, Brooklyn Democrat Harvey Epstein, has proposed doubling the states excise tax on beer to increase the state’s revenues from about $45 million to $96 million per year.
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News OSHA Speaks – Are You Listening?

Posted by Tom McCormick

With success comes visibility. The craft brewing industry, which to some extent flew under the radar of many regulatory agencies, has become a big blip on the radar screen.
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