Legislative, Government Affairs & Legal Updates

Stay informed on the latest beer industry, legislative, government affairs and legal news, including updates on the Brewers Association and NBWA. Understand the evolving beverage alcohol regulatory and legal environment that can directly impact your distribution, retail efforts, intellectual property, packaging and ingredients.

Submit Legislative News
If you have insights into recent regulatory or legislative news related to the beer or beverage-alcohol industry, please submit your news to your team.

Featured Legislative, Government Affairs & Legal Updates Content

Bart Watson: If You’re Trying to Ride Out This Wave, ‘You Should Probably Reconsider’

Bart Watson: If You’re Trying to Ride Out This Wave, ‘You Should Probably Reconsider’

Anyone looking for an answer to when craft’s current era of compounding hurdles and declines will come to an end received a reality check Wednesday during Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson’s state of the industry address, held at the start of Day 2 of the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Indianapolis.

Additional Content

Lester Jones on Beer’s ‘Moneyball’ Play; Carbliss Founders on Their Under-the-Radar Heater

Lester Jones on Beer’s ‘Moneyball’ Play; Carbliss Founders on Their Under-the-Radar Heater

Bars, restaurants and social gathering spaces are beer’s “moneyball” opportunity, National Beer Wholesalers Association VP of analytics and chief economist Lester Jones shares during the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast. Jones is the first of two interviews this week. Adam and Amanda Kroener, the founders of spirits-based cocktail brand Carbliss, also join this week’s podcast.

Surfside Maker Sues A-B Over Skimmers Hard Tea Packaging

Surfside Maker Sues A-B Over Skimmers Hard Tea Packaging

If you thought Skimmers, Anheuser-Busch InBev’s (A-B) entrant into the vodka-based tea segment, looked a bit too similar to the space’s lead brand Surfside, you’re not alone. Philadelphia-based Stateside Brands LLC, the parent company of Surfside hard tea and lemonade, filed a complaint against A-B in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

NBWA Panel: ‘Facts, Not Fearmongering’ Can Help Beer Beat Headwinds

NBWA Panel: ‘Facts, Not Fearmongering’ Can Help Beer Beat Headwinds

The beverage-alcohol industry has endured an “onslaught of negative news” about health concerns and alcohol consumption in 2025, Bernstein analyst Nadine Sarwat shared during a panel discussion this week at the National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) Annual Convention in Las Vegas.

SNAP Reform Could Cost Retailers $1B+, Survey Says

SNAP Reform Could Cost Retailers $1B+, Survey Says

The Trump administration’s drive to narrow the scope of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may cost food retailers nearly $1.6 billion upfront and $759 million annually, according to a survey conducted by three grocery industry trade groups.