New Hampshire breweries gained direct-to-consumer intrastate shipping rights and several other new privileges when Gov. Christopher Sununu signed a bill of alcoholic beverage reforms into law earlier this month. “They built their businesses: Our job is to get out of the way and let them thrive and grow,” Sununu said
8th Wonder Brewery and Distillery in Houston released a Delta 8 THC non-alcoholic seltzer last week, advertised as the first Delta 8 seltzer product in Texas — a state that has been debating the legality of Delta 8 products in recent months.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont this week announced the reduction of taxes on beer by 16.7%, effective July 1, 2023.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced draft legislation today that would federally decriminalize marijuana.
Anheuser-Busch InBev CEO Carlos Brito officially passed the torch Thursday to Michel Doukeris after 15 years with the world’s largest beer manufacturer.
Six new alcohol laws will go into effect in Virginia starting July 1 — and a seventh on January 1, 2022. The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) recently explained those laws, from the extension of cocktails to-go sales, to “low-alcohol beverages” sales in ABC stores, with the state of emergency, which was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to expire on June 30.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ended the state’s state of emergency on Thursday, which meant the expiration of delivery and to-go privileges granted to breweries, bars and restaurants during the pandemic. The New Jersey bill (S.B. 3452) that would have brought the state excise tax rate on spirits-based, ready-to-drink canned cocktails in line with beer has been pulled from consideration for now, sources confirmed with Brewbound.
Minhas Craft Brewery, the second-oldest continuously run brewery in the U.S., is producing Happy Dad Hard Seltzer, which was created by the Nelk Boys, a group of Canadian YouTubers with more than 6.6 million subscribers.
Sugar-based hard seltzers are now considered malt beverages in Oregon and will be taxed accordingly, ending the state’s discrepancy with the federal government’s classification of the popular bubbly beverages.
Efforts to equalize the tax rate for ready-to-drink canned cocktails with beer in New Jersey have picked up steam in recent weeks.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot proposed a new business relief package Wednesday, which includes the implementation of a 10 p.m. curfew on off-premise alcohol sales; alcohol to-go sales and delivery will no longer be allowed in Massachusetts after the Commonwealth’s state of emergency ends June 15.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Wednesday making permanent alcohol to-go sales in Texas, the Texas Tribune reported.
Under SB 623, which was referred to the Senate law and justice committee on May 3, breweries and wholesalers would have to revisit their distribution contracts every five years. If the contract cannot be renegotiated after five years, the parties must enter mediation with a mutually agreed upon mediator or, failing that, a mediator appointed by “a court of competent jurisdiction.”
Minnesota brewers’ efforts to remove a ban on growler and beer to-go sales for larger craft breweries have fallen short; meanwhile, legislation that would allow Texas restaurants to continue to sell beer, wine and mixed drinks with takeout orders is now in the hands of Gov. Greg Abbott; and more news from the states.
