There are three sales channels in the liquor world, direct-to-consumer (often times one-tier involved), direct-to-retail (two-tiers involved), and sales through the traditional three-tier system.
A recent federal district Court decision in Iowa dealt with a state permitting in-state wineries to sell direct-to-retailer but not permitting these same privileges for out-of-state wineries.
Iowa unsuccessfully sought to […]
The liquor industry sales are falling and the negative consequences to the industry are real. Wine sales are down, beer sales are down, and spirits sales are up only because of RTD sales.
But we should not think of this negative impact as falling faceless numbers, we should think of the human element of what these […]
Vice President Kamala Harris shocked the political world when she suggested price controls as a way to deal with inflation. Price controls were last implemented under the Nixon Presidency and their impact was a negative for the economic system.
With playing a central role in her economic plan layout, there is no doubt, if elected President […]
Anyone who is involved with the liquor world knows how the lack of access to DTC markets is hurting distillers across the country. Outside of the statistics, all it takes is talking with a distiller or two to get the gist of this.
Jake Emen’s piece in Food and Wine sheds light on the grave state […]
Politicians never fail to live up to their reputation of exercising a lack of foresight when proposing policy. In the wonderful Corn Husker state, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, has proposed a 287% increase on the liquor excise tax for spirits. The excise tax would increase from $3.75 a gallon to $14.50 a gallon.
It would result […]
It was to great excitement in February of 2022 that I read the Treasury’s report on competition in the alcohol industry. Finally, a high up government agency that identified flaws and could become an agent for change.
The report focused on important topics such as the threats posed by wholesaler consolidation and the inability of […]
The industry is ablaze with the talk of non-alcoholic beverages rise in the marketplace. According to IWSR, overall volume year-to-year grew 29%.
With growth in this category transitioning from sleepy to emerging, there will no doubt be more scrutiny.
Recently, we have seen enhanced scrutiny on non-alcoholic brands that transitioned into the alcohol space. Brands like Eggo […]
With a bitterly divided electorate and a contentious presidential election coming, I am going to try to take a sober look at alcohol policy from the two administrations, and compare and contrast and determine who has the better policy.
Interestingly enough, neither of these men drink, Trump holds liquor licenses through his business, I have no […]
Towards the end of spring WSWA took time to trash those that want to dismantle the three-tier system, as people opposed to safety and competition in the alcohol space.
Much of their piece was based on the benefits the three-tier system provides and that dismantling the three-tier system would take us back to a time […]
As Lina Khan is in the mood for excessive regulatory creep, I have a solution. We should embolden her with titles that are befit for royalty. Being Chair of the FTC does not seem like enough for her, and she has shown an empirical thirst for other titles, I say we acquiesce and make her […]