Category: Legislative & Regulatory
News relating to the state and federal politics of beer and regulatory structure
News TTB Proposes Mandatory Disclosures of Allergens and Alcohol Facts in Labeling
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has published two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) that would require the disclosure of allergen as well as Alcohol Facts information on labels of alcohol beverages. Although the specifications were expected in some form, the proposed new requirements would be a major labelling change for alcohol beverages at a time when the industry is struggling with declining sales across all categories.
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News The Craft Beer Legacy of Jimmy Carter – Legalizing Homebrew
The homebrewing movement no doubt had a key role in the birth of the craft brewing industry. In the early years of craft brewing, most of those who started a craft brewery were homebrewers. Jimmy Carter, who recently passed away at the age of 100, is responsible for making homebrewing legal in the U.S.
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News Surgeon General Proposes Mandatory Cancer Risk Warning Labels on Alcohol
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has proposed that alcohol beverage containers should carry a warning label that alcohol is a leading cause of cancer. Murthy says in a report issued today that alcohol contributing to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year.
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News TTB Establishes ‘American Single Malt Whisky’ Standard of Identity
In a final ruling, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has amended the distilled spirits standards of identity regulations to include “American single malt whisky” as a type of whisky that is produced in the United States and meets certain other criteria.
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News ‘Bubble Bill’ Introduced in US Senate to Lower Taxes on Carbonated Fruit Ciders
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York has introduced the Bubble Tax Modernization Act to the Senate (S.5442) to amend the Internal Revenue Code to remove the differentiation between mead and low alcohol wine for purposes of the tax imposed on wines. The bill will help cider makers avoid paying a much higher tax if their cider reaches a certain carbonation level.
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News BA Provides Post-Election Outlook and Possible Impacts on Craft Brewers
It’s behind us. And although it is impossible to forecast the impact of a new president and shakeup in Congress, the Brewers Association (BA) has a few thoughts on some likely impacts that craft brewers and the alcohol beverage industry can look out for.
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News US District Court Decision Could Help Reshape Self-Distribution Landscape
A US district court has ruled that an Iowa law which allows in-state wineries to self-distribute to retailers but prohibits out-of-state wineries from doing the same is unconstitutional. It puts into question similar laws in many other states that allow wineries and breweries to sell directly to retailers but requires out-of-state producers to go through the three-tier system.
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News CA Governor Signs Legislation Allowing Breweries to Sell Beer Off Licensed Premise
Few states have provisions which allow a beer manufacturer to sell beer off their licensed premises. California, like many other states did allow a brewery, winery or distiller to donate or sell alcohol beverages to a non-profit organization charitable organization which could then sell the beer to the public under a special event license. California will soon break that barrier and allow breweries to directly sell beer to the public at an assortment of events, away from the licensed premise, by obtaining a caterers permit.
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News Government Shutdown Looms – Brewers Can Prepare
Here we go again. As we near the end of the federal government’s fiscal year, there is a very strong likelihood that Congress will not meet the September 30th deadline to pass a budget for the 2025 fiscal year. Although it is possible that Congress will pass a continuing resolution to provide funding for an interim period of time until an annual budget is passed, it is also very possible that they will not – which would lead to a government shutdown, essentially disabling the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Brewers may want to prepare.
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News TTB Wants to Hear From You – Help Them Help You
The Alcohol Tabacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has put out their annual Customer Satisfaction Survey and wants to hear from industry members on how the TTB can better shape their services. The survey includes questions on industry members experience with the agency and what the TTB can do to increase the level of satisfaction by industry users.
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News BA Hosts 2024 National State Guilds Summit
Your state brewers association is working for you. And the Brewers Association (BA) is helping. The BA sponsored the 2024 biannual National State Guilds Summit in Madison, Wisconsin with representatives from 28 state guilds attending the two-day educational event.
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News New York Signs Law Allowing Craft Manufacturers of Spirits and Cider to Ship DTC
New York has passed legislation to allow craft manufacturers of spirits, cider, and mead to ship directly to consumers. It is one more state added to the list in the slow and steady effort to allow direct shipping for alcoholic beverages other than wine.
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News Anderson Valley Wins ‘Fair Market Value’ Case Against Beer Wholesaler
Anderson Valley Brewing won a court case against Golden Brands Distributing, a subsidiary of Reyes Holdings, in which the definition and application of “fair market value” was contested. It is a case that puts some guardrails on just how far beer distributors can go when demanding to be paid for a brands distribution rights.
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News Colorado Becomes 28th State to Make To-Go Alcoholic Drinks Permanent
Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed SB 20, a bill to permanently allow the sale of alcohol beverages for takeout and delivery from restaurants. This makes Colorado the 28th state to make alcohol to-go permanent, one of a number of lasting regulatory impacts of the pandemic for the alcoholic beverage industry.
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News Hard Fought Franchise Reform Passes in Wyoming
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has signed Senate File 0079 (SF 0079), a franchise reform bill into law. The bill has been a long fought and negotiated compromise between the states beer wholesalers and craft brewers to provide some relief to small brewers when terminating a distributor.
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News CHEERS Act Would Give Tax Break to Bars and Restaurants That Serve Draft Beer
The CHEERS Act, a congressional bill that would provide a tax break to restaurants and bars that utilize draft beer systems and help revitalize the hospitality industry has been introduced in Washington, DC.
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News TTB Takes Input from Brewers on Ingredient Labelling
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is considering whether to require nutritional information on alcoholic beverages such as what the Food and Drug Administration has long required on other foods and beverages. The TTB is currently taking public comment – including those from the industry – until March 29.
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News Britain Puts the Freeze on Alcohol Tax Increases for 12 Months
Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt today announced a freeze on any increase in alcohol taxes until February 2025. The announcement was met with mixed reviews as many in the alcohol industry have been pushing for a reduction in taxes.
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News Party! New Jersey Law Finally Allows Self-Distribution and Special Events
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law Senate Bill 4265, the long-awaited legislation to give more privileges to craft breweries, cideries, meaderies and distilleries. The legislation finally gives craft producers many of the privileges that are allowed in almost all other states.
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