Experienced And Knowledgeable With Both The Alcohol beverage Industry And The Law
Senate Bill 51-49 includes a two-year version of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, which cuts the federal excise tax on spirits, wine and beer, allows in-bond transfers of bottled spirits and provides for the expensing of certain costs related to the aging process of alcohol. The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act creates a tiered excise tax…
After Sessions Takes Off the Gloves, the Legalized Cannabis Industry Strikes Back. Here is Hoban’s official response to today’s Jeff Sessions memo (Ryan Malkin is Of Counsel at Hoban Law Group: While the gloves are off, it’s unclear who will be throwing the first punch: United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions or the legalized cannabis industry. In this morning’s attached internal…
Republic National Distributing Company (“RNDC“) announced that it plans to merge with Breakthru Beverage Group. According to RNDC’s President, Tom Cole, “the merger of RNDC and Breakthru will create strategic opportunities that will benefit our associates and our business partners in a rapidly changing and highly competitive marketplace. Much more than a growth opportunity, we are entering this venture to create…
I am pleased to be participating in the American Craft Spirit Association’s upcoming webinar. The details are below: Craft Spirits Classroom: Quenching Your Thirst for Knowledge Do You Have Questions About ACQUISITIONS? We Have Answers Have you ever considered selling your distillery? During this webinar, presented by Ryan Malkin and Dan Gasper, we will delve into various options regarding a…
According to TTB, it conducted a joint operation with the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (“ILCC”) regarding alleged “pay to play” or “slotting fee” activities. Per the TTB announcement, “this is the second large-scale trade practice enforcement joint operation that TTB has conducted this year [the other being in Miami] as part of our ongoing effort to secure a level playing field nationwide…
Have you ever considered using hemp in your alcohol beverage product? Check out the latest edition of Artisan Spirit.
TTB is instituting new contact options to replace the various email addresses. Instead, you can now complete the “Contact Us” form on the TTB website. For more information on the change and options for contacting TTB, click here.
According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), it is conducting a joint investigation with agents from the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) into “pay to play” activities in Miami. “Pay to play” is also known as a “slotting fee.” A “slotting fee” is impermissible and involves, for instance, an alcohol beverage supplier giving a thing…
The Brewers Association (“BA”), the trade group of independent American craft brewers, launched a seal that informs consumers that the beer was produced by an independent brewery. The BA release says, “to proudly display that independent spirit, the Brewers Association has created a symbol to unify craft breweries from around the country. This symbol—the independent craft brewer seal—gives beer lovers an easy…
Heineken, importers of Desperados beer, is battling Mexico’s Consejo Regulador del Tequila (“CRT”) over the beer being tequila flavored. Use of the name tequila in alcoholic beverages (like Champagne or Cognac) is a designation of origin regulated by the CRT. The CRT says the beer violates the rules because the beer is, well, a beer and not a spirit. According to Beverage…
