In 1973 Irishman and Manchester United great George Best experienced a great fall from grace. At one point he was the best in the world, years later his career was on a downturn. As a waiter was delivering champagne to Mr. Best in his hotel bedroom, he couldn’t help but to say to Mr. Best, […]
The Supreme Court back in 2005 settled the winery shipping issue in Granholm, when it held that a law permitting in-state wineries to ship to in-state consumers but not affording this same privilege to out-of-state wineries violated the Commerce Clause’s Non-Discrimination Principle.
Although the issue seems settled, wine wholesalers never gave up the fight to restrict […]
The new Wisconsin law signed by the governor results in a major overhaul of its liquor system. The new law creates a new division inside the Wisconsin Department of Revenue dedicated to the liquor industry. The law creates a new statute that defines the power and duties of the division, as it relates to […]
California legislation creates a niche instead of a solution
California legislation, AB-495, proposes to loosen the strict rules, which forbid a distilled spirits manufacturer from distributing its own products. Under California law a Distilled Spirits Manufacturer and a Craft Distiller cannot self-distribute their own product, and unlike the wine and beer […]
Illinois makes radical changes with HB2620: PART I
The Illinois legislature recently passed HB 2620 which makes some radical changes to the liquor system. These changes include changing Brew Pubs into Class 3 brewers and providing them full retail privileges and self-distribution, allowing for cooperative purchasing agreements, and writing into […]
Illinois’ cocktails-to-go law is set to expire June 2, 2021. Fortunately, SB104 would extend cocktails-to-go until December 31, 2023.
However, SB104 has not passed the legislature, and if it fails to become law, bars and restaurants lose their privilege to sell cocktails-to-go.
Many bars and restaurants survival depends […]
NO THANK YOU WEST VIRGINIA
There is a trend occurring in the liquor world, where states introduce legislation that looks like states are opening up markets and expanding consumer access to products, but when the layers of the opinion become peeled away, the legislation fails to serve its purpose.
Recently, a bill (HB 2025) was […]
Kansas closes in on the Constitutional abyss
Kansas became the latest state to engage in the most recent ugly trend in the liquor world, introducing laws […]
Tennessee, we have a constitutional problem
Tennessee HB 0742 and SB 0705 represented an ill-fated attempt to ban fulfillment houses from shipping wine to Tennessee residents. Based on a groundswell of opposition and the legislative sponsor actually gaining an education on wine shipping, the fulfillment house ban provision was taken out of […]
Lamberth in Wonderland: Fulfillment House Ban lifted in Tennessee, but still be concerned
State Representative William Lamberth has lifted his proposed ban on fulfillment houses, alleluia!
After hearing from many consumers and Tennessee wineries, Mr. Lamberth discovered fulfillment houses are important to the wine industry, and that many Tennessee wineries utilize fulfillment houses. […]