In a rarity in Washington these days, bipartisan legislation has been introduced to address one of the fastest-growing sectors in consumer products: hemp-derived cannabinoids. Introduced by Representatives Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.), the Lawful Hemp Protection Act would establish a federal regulatory framework for low-THC hemp products, replacing the patchwork of state laws […]
Can a Digital Whiskey Exchange Solve Ireland’s Biggest Whiskey Challenge?
Ireland is experiencing a whiskey renaissance.
Over the past decade, dozens of new distilleries have opened, production has increased dramatically, exports continue to grow, and Irish whiskey has become one of the fastest-growing premium spirits in the world.
Yet behind this success lies a financial challenge unique to […]
Mississippi’s alcohol distribution system is breaking down in real time. Deliveries that once took two or three days are now taking five to six weeks. The state’s own wholesale arm has been slowed by software failures and operational delays, leaving retailers without the inventory they depend on to stay in business.
This is not a minor […]
A very telling article written by Alfonso Cevola, who worked as the Italian Wine Director for Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits (Southern) for nearly 30 years, demonstrates how the wholesale tier changed their practices to worsen the bottleneck crisis for small wineries. Yes, the same tier that lobbies to take away market opportunities for […]
Another indictment was handed down last week by a federal grand jury in the case involving Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern).
Five high-level employees were indicted for allegedly participating in a bribery scheme involving Albertsons and for falsifying records to conceal the conduct (According to the San Francisco Chronicle). Unlike the Watergate scandal—where the cover-up […]
As Congress has less than a year to decide the fate of the hemp beverage industry, there is a lot of buzz about how it will be regulated. Will the alcohol three-tier regulatory system be imposed on it, or will hemp beverages enjoy a freer market than its alcohol compatriot.? WSWA is gearing up its […]
The wine industry is going through a tough phase. Sales are down, vines are being pulled up, ultra committed health wackos are making absurd claims, and there is competition from the new en vogue cannabis industry.
Now we can throw another log onto the fire, governments that purposefully want to destroy some of the industries smallest […]
2025 is in its twilight and we now turn our gaze towards 2026. Although some major events occurred in 2025 such as legalizing California DTC shipping for craft distillers, 2026 is shaping up as a year where the alcohol industry could radically change.
The Hammer may fall in 2026
Previous to 2025 very […]
The ILCC put out a letter on the new licensing compliance portal set to launch in early 2026. The portal will thankfully replace the present system MyTax Illinois. The new system will act as the centralized location for all licensing and compliance activities.
To access the new system the user will need to create an ILogin […]
With alcohol sales plummeting and small producers looking forward to a dismal January, we need to change the narrative in the alcohol space. January has been taken over as Dry January, where people are motivated to abstain from alcohol for the whole month. With almost 1 in 2 of the youth switching to cannabis during […]