Legislative, Government Affairs & Legal Updates

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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.

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People Moves: Dr. J Jackson-Beckham Takes Full-Time Role with BA; CCBA Appoints New Executive Director

People Moves: Dr. J Jackson-Beckham Takes Full-Time Role with BA; CCBA Appoints New Executive Director

Dr. J Jackson-Beckham has joined the Brewers Association (BA) as equity and inclusion partner, a new full-time role created to “help promote greater diversity, equity and inclusion in the craft brewing industry,” according to a press release. Following the retirement of long-time executive director Tom McCormick, the California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) has hired Lori Ajax as its next executive director, effective January 4, 2021.

Pennsylvania Bans On-Premise Alcohol Sales on Thanksgiving Eve

Pennsylvania Bans On-Premise Alcohol Sales on Thanksgiving Eve

Pennsylvanians looking to reunite with former classmates at their hometown bars on the night before Thanksgiving will have to do so over Zoom, as the commonwealth has banned on-premise alcohol sales from 5 p.m. on Wednesday until 8 a.m. on Thursday. The ban applies to “bars, restaurants, and private catered events,” according to a press release. It intends to keep large groups of people from gathering.

Brewers Association, State Guilds Urge Consumers to Visit Breweries This Weekend

Brewers Association, State Guilds Urge Consumers to Visit Breweries This Weekend

As craft breweries continue to struggle under on-premise restrictions and closures during the fall surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation’s largest trade association representing craft breweries is encouraging consumers to include visits to local breweries as they kickstart their holiday shopping.

Brewers Association Pauses 2021 Craft Brewers Conference Registration

Brewers Association Pauses 2021 Craft Brewers Conference Registration

The Brewers Association has postponed registration for next year’s Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America until early 2021, according to an update on the conference website. “We are working hard, having ongoing conversations with the host city of San Diego and paying close attention to information regarding the evolving nature of this pandemic, and how it affects live events such as ours,” the BA wrote.

On-Premise Dining Bans Enacted in Several States as COVID-19 Pandemic Spikes

On-Premise Dining Bans Enacted in Several States as COVID-19 Pandemic Spikes

As the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic surges in the U.S., governors continue enacting restrictions to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Over the weekend, the governors of Washington, Oregon, Michigan and New Mexico banned on-site dining at bars and restaurants for the next few weeks.

Data Club: Wholesaler Beer Purchasing Expands in October; Brewers Ship 14.8M Barrels in September

Data Club: Wholesaler Beer Purchasing Expands in October; Brewers Ship 14.8M Barrels in September

The National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) Beer Purchasers’ Index — which tracks wholesalers’ monthly buying behaviors — expanded in October 2020 with an index of 76. Meanwhile, year-to-date through September, U.S. brewers have shipped more than 126.5 million barrels of beer, a decline of 0.9% (or more than 1.1 million barrels), according to domestic tax paid estimates from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) shared by the Beer Institute.

Colorado Elects John Hickenlooper to US Senate; Recreational Cannabis Legalized in 4 States

Colorado Elects John Hickenlooper to US Senate; Recreational Cannabis Legalized in 4 States

John Hickenlooper — a Democrat, former Colorado governor and co-founder of Denver-based Wynkoop Brewing — will become the first craft brewer to win a seat in the U.S. Senate after defeating incumbent Sen. Cory Gardner (R.-Colo.) on Tuesday. “Clearly people are saying it’s time to turn the page, it’s time for a different approach,” Hickenlooper… Read more »

Brewers Association Survey: Beer-to-Go Buoyed Craft Brewers in Q3, But Recovery Still Distant

Brewers Association Survey: Beer-to-Go Buoyed Craft Brewers in Q3, But Recovery Still Distant

Craft brewers’ sales improved during the third quarter of 2020, but are still far off from where they were in 2019, according to a new analysis by Brewers Association (BA) chief economist Bart Watson. Combining several datasets tracking on-premise sales, Watson found that Q3 sales fell 22% below baseline, a marked improvement over Q2’s 45% below baseline.

Miami-Based Biscayne Bay Brewing Files Lawsuit Against Heineken-Backed La Tropical Holdings

Miami-Based Biscayne Bay Brewing Files Lawsuit Against Heineken-Backed La Tropical Holdings

Miami-based Biscayne Bay Brewing has filed a lawsuit against La Tropical Holdings B.V. and Cerveceria La Tropical USA LLC, alleging that they and their parent companies, Heineken N.V. and Heineken USA, have no basis for their claims of trademark infringement. Those claims, the company alleged, cost Biscayne Bay a commercial relationship with Major League Soccer franchise, team Inter Miami CF.

NBWA Presents Life Service Award to Beer Distribution Workforce

This week during its 83rd Annual Convention and Product Showcase, the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) presented its Life Service Award to the 142,000 hardworking people who make up America’s beer distribution industry.