2024 saw little movement to expand access to DtC shipping of beer despite the efforts of state guilds to change state laws. Legislation was introduced in several states that would have given brewers permission to ship equal to what wineries currently enjoy, but no bill was ultimately successful.
Still, the desire among craft beer consumers to receive beer shipped to their homes from brewers all over the country continues to bolster these ongoing efforts, according to a report by Sovos Ship Compliant and the Brewers Association.
The report said that 83% of those who regularly drink craft beer would like to see laws expanded to allow DtC. Nearly four in five regular craft beer drinkers (78%) said they are likely to purchase craft beer via DtC shipping in the future.
Currently, 10 states in the country allow brewers to ship beer interstate. Those states are Alaska, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont and Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia. All states except for Utah and Louisiana allow DtC within the state.
The primary opposition for expanding DtC beer shipping continued to be powerful interests such as beer wholesalers and retailers who claim that DtC represents a threat to their operations. They have been mostly successful due to their oversized political power and influence.
The report said that according to the National Beer Wholesalers Association Beer Purchasers Index, wholesalers are looking to scale back on craft purchasing, cutting SKUs from their inventory and are not seeking to add more craft to their trucks. In fact, the purchase of craft brands by wholesalers has continued to decline for the second straight year, meaning less opportunity for craft brewers to reach the marketplace through traditional distribution channels.
See the full report here.