In 2020 we worked on getting cocktails-to-go passed in Illinois. With our movement of the first cocktails-to-go bill passed in America, we faced great opposition from the government. There were refrains that it was dangerous because people would now be able to open a ready-made cocktail while driving and Chicago would turn into New Orleans. […]
Illinois Senate Bill 618 passed in the House and is on its way to the governor’s office where it is expected to be signed. I covered the Illinois Veto Legislation in a previous post
For the sake of not repeating, I will cover significant legislation and anything that has changed.
Cocktails-to-go becomes […]
It is safe to say that a 25% decrease in any industry would sound off troubling warning signs. To me it’s a code red and all hands need to be on deck to find a solution.
A recent report from the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), 2025 Craft Spirits Data Project, portrays an industry facing a […]
Recent Illinois legislation makes significant but not seismic changes to the Illinois liquor code. Under Illinois Senate Bill 618, which will pass in veto session, distillers, brewers and retailers will see enhanced privileges, but Illinois wineries don’t seem to obtain the privileges they were seeking.
Craft distillers
The craft distillers will see enhanced […]
Nearly 2.5 months after RNDC reached a settlement with Provi, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern) has decided to finally come to the table.
What made Southern fold their hand and succumb to defeat is subject to speculation?
Provi and Southern reached a resolution in their multi-year fight over a lawsuit filed by Provi against Southern. Provi […]
To say I was shocked to hear about the indictment against former Executive Director of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, Hobert Rupe, is an understatement. It is alleged that Mr. Rupe took bribes from a Lincoln, Nebraska strip club in the form of free cover charge, free drinks, and sexual acts. From the allegations, it […]
Another case has come forth of bribery occurring at a major supermarket chain with a large winery and a large wholesaler alleged to be involved. We can rinse and repeat as these stories repeat themselves time and time again.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the main buyer for Albertsons took bribes from a large supplier […]
A new lawsuit filed against Tennessee’s law that requires hemp derived products go through a three-tier system, similar to liquor, will test the wholesaler led march to dominate and take over the hemp industry.
Hemp infused beverages are a fast-growing industry and WSWA wants to corner the market through government mandates forcing hemp producers to […]
Important takeaway
Judge Forrest writes a very forceful and clear dissent, where she crystalizes how the majority and other circuits have taken the Granholm and Tennessee Wine standards which require a showing of concrete evidence standard, and the employing of reasonable nondiscriminatory alternatives, and replaced it with the three-tier system being a […]
On the way out the door Biden’s Surgeon General Vivek Murthy made a case for a strong link between cancer and alcohol use and wanted to put warning labels on alcohol bottles. Further, he wanted to eliminate the long-held recommendation that two drinks a day for a man and one drink a day for a […]