Ever wonder how big wine and spirits companies are able to wend their way through tricky compliance issues and come up with something the rest of us thought we couldn't do? Sure, they have an in-house team, but they also subscribe to The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law. The Digest is not well known in the industry so we're letting you in on this trade secret! 

The Digest is a compilation and condensation of statutes, regulations, and administrative decisions from all states governing the sales and marketing of wine and distilled spirits. Any business that ships wine or spirits across states lines will benefit by subscribing to this useful resource. 

To check it out, download the attached pdf "About the Digest" or go to the The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law website and click on the Demo link. 

The Digest is now published by Compliance Service of America (CSA), a long time subscriber of The Digest. A fully staffed compliance firm, CSA brings a wealth of expertise and experience in explaining complicated regulations in plain English, to The Digest.

About the Digest PDF

The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law will be on display and available for test-driving at the annual National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA), June 16-19 in Louisville, KY, doorway to the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Industry members are invited to contact us to arrange a demo of The Digest at our Conference booth or in a nearby office.

State regulators are also invited to come by for a demo, and to find out about the new Regulatory Discount.

The Digest is a compilation and condensation of statutes, regulations, and administrative decisions from all states, governing the sales and marketing of wine and distilled spirits.  Any business that ships wine or spirits across states lines will benefit by subscribing to this useful resource. For regulators, it is a useful reference for learning how various regulatory issues are handled in other states.

To check it out, download the attached pdf "About the Digest" or go to the website and click on the Demo link.

About the Digest 2019-4.pdf

Have you been wanting to expand into new markets? Do you know what are the real expenses of doing business in the states you're thinking about? It's important to know which states have strong wine sales, but often the licensing and compliance requirements are overlooked in the consideration. 

Will you be required to register with the Secretary of State to operate there? If you are shipping wholesale, how careful do you need to be when selecting your distributor? Will it be difficult or expensive to change your distributor later? If you are shipping DTC, what are the reporting requirements? Are you limited to wine of your own production? Many factors need to be taken into account to determine the true business potential of any particular state. 

The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law is an excellent, quick reference for evaluating the licensing fees, renewal fees, ongoing regulatory requirements and more, so you can look before you leap. 

To check it out, download the attached PDF "About the Digest" or go to our website and click on the Demo link.

About the Digest 2019-4.pdf

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused huge changes in our industry, and regulatory agencies are making adjustments to support industry members to continue business. Keeping up with all these changes is a big job for suppliers doing business in many states. But not for subscribers to The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law! To give you the information you need all in one place, The Digest Team has added a new section to highlight the changes of interest to suppliers. Online users will find the new information in Section 17.7, COVID-19 Regulatory Relief. Almost half of the states have been posted to The Digest, and the rest are in progress.

The Digest continues to give you the detailed information you need to help you adapt to current market conditions. With The Digest, it's easy to run reports for one or multiple states to quickly obtain answers to your questions about how best to proceed. Reports from The Digest are well organized and easy to understand, and will assist you in making proposals or recommendations to decision makers.

In addition, subscriptions are on sale! Sign up now and get 25% off the first year of a new online subscription to The Digest.* 

• Single user subscriptions are now only $745 (normally $995) use coupon code "202025" at the end of the registration process

• Company accounts with 2-5 users are now $600/user (normally $800/user) contact us with the number of users to get your coupon code.

The Digest is a compilation and condensation of statutes, regulations, and administrative decisions from all states governing the sales and marketing of wine and distilled spirits in a user-friendly format. It is an economical, time-saving, and indispensable reference for wine and spirits professionals. Multiple user discounts provide even greater savings.

For a demonstration of the power and ease of The Digest, go to our website and click See the Demo. Or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo.

*This offer expires on May 31st, 2020 and is limited to new, first time subscribers for the online version. 

DTC shipping limits can be confusing, and they are different in every state. Knowing the shipping limits for each state you ship to will help you manage your DTC sales and, most importantly, will ensure you don’t receive a warning letter for exceeding the limit. It's best to stay off the state’s radar.

For a handy reference to the shipping limits and other direct shipping requirements, subscribe to The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law website and review the State Requirements table for DTC shipping. A sample of this table is attached to this post.

The Digest is a compilation and condensation of statutes, regulations, and administrative decisions from all of the states governing the sales and marketing of wine and distilled spirits in a user-friendly format. It is an economical, time-saving, and indispensable reference for wine and spirits professionals.

For a demonstration of the power and ease of The Digest, go to the website and click See the Demo.

DTC Requirements by State Page1.jpg

Your marketing team has just come to you with a proposal for a new promotion to be launched in several states. Is it legal in each state they are proposing? And—if not, can it be revised to fit within the rules and still achieve the objective? Promotions, especially those that directly support sales at the retail level, may include activities that are prohibited in some states. Consulting The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law is always a good first step in determining whether the promotion could invite trouble.

For example: Did you know that a California winery may conduct consumer tastings at licensed establishments in Texas, but is prohibited from doing the same thing in Arkansas or Mississippi? Subscribers can run a quick trade practice report to review the rules. The PDF attached to this posting is an actual Trade Practice report generated from The Digest website for Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas for section 15.9, Sampling/Promotional Activities for Consumers.

The Digest is a compilation and condensation of statutes, regulations, and administrative decisions from all states governing the sales and marketing of wine and distilled spirits in a user-friendly format. It is an economical, time-saving, and indispensable reference for wine and spirits professionals.

For a demonstration of the power and ease of The Digest, go to our website and click See the Demo.

Trade Practice report.pdf

The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law’s "Compare" feature helps subscribers quickly see what's new each time regulatory information is updated. Need to know what has changed? See the changes at a glance by using the compare function: one click shows what text has been changed, added, or removed. 

The Digest website is updated on an on-going basis when new laws, regulations, or policies are adopted by the states. When a new update appears in the convenient "Recent Updates" list, subscribers can use the live link to go directly to the updated article. To see what’s changed, click the update date for the “compare” view. 

"This function shows subscribers at a glance exactly what’s changed." said Sara Schorske. "The Compare functionality is unique to The Digest and therefore a huge benefit to our subscribers.”
The Digest is an essential compliance reference for wine and spirits professionals. It covers statutes, regulations, and administrative decisions from all states governing the sales and marketing of wine and distilled spirits in a user-friendly format.

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo.

Visit our website
Give us a call: 800-400-1353

The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law is an industry reference published by Compliance Service of America, a consulting firm specializing in alcohol regulatory compliance. The coordinator position involves customer service, marketing, working closely with the editors to keep the database updated, website management, regular email notifications to subscribers, proofreading, light reception duties, and more. Vaccination for COVID-19 is required for this in-person, full-time position.

We are looking for someone ready to commit to this long-term position; someone who is flexible, eager to learn, and enjoys working as part of a team. Basic office skills, marketing experience, and familiarity with WordPress are required. 

Applicants should have good office skills: typing, communication, comfortable with database management, computers and phones. A high level of accuracy and organization is necessary. Reliability and excellent attendance are a must as is experience creating digital graphics, development of marketing materials, and social media posting. 

We offer an environment where human kindness is highly valued, and success is measured by the tone with which our clients and subscribers speak of us. We enjoy cooperation, and believe that the quality and efficiency of our work depends on staying in good communication with each other. Our staff is a close-knit team of about a dozen people, most of whom have worked together for 15-plus years. 

Our office is in a rural setting, even though the profile of our business would fit in a busy city. We are experts in our field, and we serve clients and subscribers all over the country, but we like working far from the corporate world. We are professional, but we are human as well. 

We work closely together and consult with each other a lot. The person filling this position will be part of the team and will be in close communication with others. If you prefer to work alone and be the sole master of your workplace, you will find our need for communication excessive. 

This is an on-site, full-time, long term, salaried position, 5 days/week, Monday through Friday. The beginning salary will be $3,000 to $3,200/month depending on level of experience. What you’ll also get is an opportunity to work in an environment where people count, your work is appreciated, and your co-workers care about your input and how you feel. We offer health insurance after a 60 day trial period.

If you would like to be considered for this position, send an e-mail to Dyana Nedra at dn@csa-compliance.com, along with your resume, references, and a letter about how you relate to this opportunity. 

Louisiana DTC shipping license renewals will include a new requirement this year for those using fulfillment houses. And fulfillment warehouses now need to begin reporting.

This recent development in Louisiana caught many by surprise. While updating The Digest we came across a change to administrative rules altering the out-of-state direct shipper permit application and renewal process. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control now requires out-of-state shippers to disclose the fulfillment house they use, and fulfillment houses are now required to report quarterly.  The new rule went into effect in August 2022. The ATC Out-of-state Shipper permits expire annually on December 31st and for those shipping from fulfillment houses, additional documentation will be required then.

At the Digest of Wine & Spirits Law, we are constantly watching for changes in administrative advisories, laws, and regulations. We know it's important for our subscribers to know when information changes that directly impacts how you do business. 

The Digest is an essential compliance reference for wine and spirits professionals. It covers statutes, regulations, and administrative decisions from all states governing the sales and marketing of wine and distilled spirits in a user-friendly format.

Further reference:  Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 55, Part VII, §335

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo.

Visit our website or give us a call: 800-400-1353

In the alcohol beverage industry, when laws and regulations change you need to know! That’s why The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law is constantly updated with the most recent administrative and legislative changes. And these changes are publicly posted right on our website for your convenience. The links on the Recent Updates page allow subscribers access to the full text of the updated article complete with revision history, date of revision, and more.

Be in the know. Subscribe to The Digest, and you will also have the option of receiving periodic emails when our database is updated. Once you are signed up for update notifications, you will receive an email every few weeks notifying you what has been changed and when.

The Digest makes it fast and easy to stay on top of compliance issues in our heavily regulated industry.

Don’t let regulatory and legislative changes catch you by surprise, subscribe today!

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo. Visit our website or give us a call: 800-400-1353.

“Better with Age” is the theme for American Craft Spirits Association’s 10th Annual Distillers’ Convention and Vendor Trade Show this February 10-12 in Portland, Oregon. The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law fully supports the mission of ACSA, “To elevate and advocate for the community of craft spirits producers.” So the Digest team is delighted to sponsor this year’s event, with our best wishes for a great event!

The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law is the essential compliance reference trusted by industry professionals. It is the most comprehensive, easy-to-use, accurate resource available to the beverage alcohol industry.

The Digest was first launched in 1991 by Mary Kramer of M.J. Kramer & Associates. In the beginning it was offered in printed form only in a set of three 3-ring binders, updated quarterly. An online option was made available later. Over the years The Digest, informally known as “The Red Books,” found its way into the compliance offices of wineries, distilleries, and breweries, including some of the largest corporate brands in the United States. 

In 2018, Mary retired and The Digest was acquired by Compliance Service of America (CSA), a well-respected compliance company specializing in alcohol beverage regulation and licensing since 1983. A full-service compliance company in operation for forty years, CSA brings a vast wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to The Digest, along with an exceptional reputation for explaining complex regulations in plain English.

CSA reworked the Digest database, allowing it to be updated as regulatory changes occur, and adding several new features. These include a Recent Updates list, a “compare” function that allows users to see exactly what has changed in each updated article, a separate DTC summary table providing an at-a-glance overview of direct shipping requirements, the option to get email notifications of changes, and “how-to” videos to help users navigate the various aspects of the site. And the printed version now fills four 3-ring binders.

Online or in print, The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law puts compliance expertise at your fingertips.

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo. Visit our website or give us a call: 800-400-1353.

Early this month, the New Mexico Alcoholic Beverage Control sent an email to holders of the Direct Wine Shipper Permit informing them that registration with the New Mexico Secretary of State is required for corporations doing business in the state. Effective immediately, corporations holding a New Mexico Direct Wine Shipper Permit must submit proof of registration to renew their permit.

The email cited an existing New Mexico law in support of the new requirement. The ABC had not previously required registration with the Secretary of State for direct shipper permits but is now enforcing this requirement. The New Mexico law only applies to corporations. Limited liability companies are not required to register with the Secretary of State.

The new requirement adds significantly to a corporation’s cost of selling wine to New Mexico consumers. While the annual fee for the ABC permit is only $50, the fee for registering a foreign corporation is between $200 and $1,000, depending on what portion of the corporation’s total gross receipts is estimated to come from its New Mexico revenues. In addition, corporations registered with the Secretary of State must maintain an agent for service of process in the state, submit annual reports, and pay New Mexico franchise taxes.

The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law is an essential compliance reference that helps wine and spirits professionals keep up with changes to laws and regulations affecting our industry. Anyone who needs to navigate the requirements for selling and marketing wine and distilled spirits will be benefitted by a subscription to this versatile resource.

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo. Visit our website or give us a call: 800-400-1353.

Senate Bill 1013, passed last year by the California legislature, added wine and spirits containers to California's recycling program beginning January 1, 2024. In anticipation of that day, the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), California’s agency administering the program, has begun educating members of the wine and spirits industry about how the program will affect them. 

Here are the highlights: 

Registration. Companies that bottle, import, or sell wine and spirits to be offered for sale in California must register with CalRecycle before January 1, 2024. CalRecycle recommends registering as soon as possible. 

Labeling. A California redemption statement will be required on wine and spirits labels for sale in California. Wine and spirits containers will be recycled in California beginning January 1, 2024, but the law allows a grace period before redemption labeling is mandatory. Here are the dates you need to know: 

• The redemption statement may appear on wine and spirits for sale at retail in California beginning January 1, 2024 to indicate to consumers that the container is recyclable. However, wine and spirits sold in California before January 1 must not show a redemption statement, as the program does not start until January 1st. 
• The redemption statement must appear on wine and spirits containers sold in California beginning July 1, 2025. 

When do you need to revise labels to comply with these requirements? Each winery should decide by considering these target dates, taking into account the winery's bottling schedules, bottle-aging protocols, and anticipated release dates. 

Reporting. Reporting requirements also go into effect next year. 

• Processing fees, required to offset the costs of recycling, must be submitted by bottlers of wine or spirits. Wineries that use third-party bottling services may agree with the bottler to assume this responsibility. The first report is due March 10, 2024. 
• Fees to cover consumer refunds (called CRV fees) must also be collected and remitted by companies that sell redeemable containers to California retailers or consumers. Wineries need to start collecting the CRV fees on January 1, 2024, and the first report is due February 28, 2024. 

There is much more to understand beyond these highlights. For more information, check out these links on CalRecycle's website: 

Info for members of the wine and spirits industry: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/BevContainer/BevDistman/
Labeling requirements: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/BevContainer/BevDistMan/Labeling/
Registration: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/BevContainer/BevDistMan/Registration/
FAQs: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/BevContainer/BevDistMan/FAQ/ 

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or  contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo. Visit our website or give us a call: 800-400-1353. 

Many alcoholic beverage manufacturers have been looking forward to getting Alaska’s new DTC license, which goes into effect January 1, 2024. Due to both regulatory and technical issues, we are anticipating significant delays in obtaining that license, causing out-of-state producers to lose the ability to ship direct to Alaska consumers for the foreseeable future.

Currently, anyone can ship “a reasonable amount” of alcoholic beverages to Alaska residents—no license or reporting required. That privilege ends January 1, when it is replaced by the new AK Manufacturer Direct Shipping License.

We have been closely tracking the availability of the AK DTC license. We have learned that the state’s online licensing system does not yet accept applications from out-of-state companies, and it is not clear when the system will take an application for this license.

In addition, the state has adopted regulations governing DTC shipping that impose requirements that are impractical for any out-of-state company to fulfill. The California Wine Institute is working with state officials to resolve the issues and rewrite the new DTC regulations. That effort is expected to take several months.

Consumers in Alaska are probably unaware of these obstacles. Producers with customers there may wish to reach out to them and give them an opportunity to order wine during December, while it is still legal to ship to them.

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo. Visit our website or give us a call: 800-400-1353.

Alaska’s new Manufacturer Direct Shipment license goes into effect January 1, 2024. The AMCO plans to start accepting online applications later this month.

Even though the new license may be possible to obtain soon, new regulations governing the license impose a number of requirements that make the fulfillment of orders very difficult. The regulations as currently written require direct shipment licensees to do the following:

• Obtain and retain a copy of ID documents that show the photograph and signature of the purchaser and any other individual authorized to receive the shipment and deliver it to the purchaser;
• Determine whether the purchaser’s name is on the list of prohibited persons provided by AMCO to all package store and DTC licensees, and if so, reject the order;
• Ensure that the written or electronic order is signed and dated by the purchaser and refers by number to the purchaser’s ID document;
• If your company meets the sales threshold for sales tax nexus in Alaska (over 200 transactions or $100,000 in AK retail sales) and the delivery location imposes local sales tax, collect the tax prior to shipment;
• Determine if the purchaser lives in an area that has restricted the sale of alcoholic beverages by local option. A list of restricted zip codes is available on the AMCO website. Manufacturer Direct Shipment licensees may not legally ship to those locations.

In addition, Alaska law requires all holders of an AK Manufacturer Direct Shipment License to pay AK excise tax on all shipments. Before beginning to ship to AK customers, licensees will need to obtain an Excise Tax License, which requires a $25,000 tax bond for at least the first three years.

The Wine Institute has been in discussion with Alaska regulators, urging them to reduce the requirements, but the timing and exact nature of the revisions is still unknown. 

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo. Visit our website or give us a call: 800-400-1353.

New state laws governing the alcoholic beverage industry go into effect frequently. Unless you happen to see a public announcement, how do you find out about these changes, and whether they impact the way you do business in the state?

The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law makes it easy. The Digest is updated throughout the year, as laws change. A public listing of recent updates is available on The Digest’s home page. From there, subscribers can view the updated article, marked up to show the changes. Watch Corky, The Digest’s animated assistant, demonstrate how this works.

Subscribe to The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law to take advantage of its many powerful features that make it an indispensable research tool for industry professionals.

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo. Visit our website or give us a call: 800-400-1353.

California has generated considerable excitement in the industry by offering a DTC permit allowing craft distillers across the country to ship their products directly to consumers in California, one of the country's largest retail markets.

Since COVID, California craft distillers have had a temporary direct shipping privilege, which ends 12/31/2025. California’s new Type 94 Direct Shipper Permit will allow spirits direct shipping for both in-state and out-of-state craft distillers. CA ABC will accept applications starting December 15, 2025, and will issue permits effective January 1, 2026.

Here's what craft distillers need to know about this new permit; those located outside of California should consider these requirements before jumping on this opportunity:

• The permit is only available to distillers producing 150,000 gallons or less per year, of which sixty-five percent (65%) must be of their own production.
• The permit will expire on 12/31/2026 and cannot be renewed unless the California legislature extends the authorization for the permit.
• Spirits containers sold to California customers must comply with California's bottle bill, which requires the distiller to label bottles appropriately and to register with CalRecycle to collect and remit deposits and other fees.
• California's Proposition 65 requires sellers of alcoholic beverages directly to consumers to give the various Proposition 65 health warnings on websites, order pages and in shipping boxes.
• Distillers must register with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to report and pay excise taxes on the spirits shipped. If the distiller has economic or physical nexus, sales taxes must also be collected and paid.
• Out-of-state distillers must register with the California Secretary of State, which requires payment of filing fees and appointment of an agent for service of process.
• Registration with the Secretary of State may have franchise tax implications. Applicants should consult their tax advisor for guidance.

California's one year trial authorization of this permit, if successful, may encourage other states to issue their own direct-to-consumer shipping permits for spirits.

Want to see more like this? Subscribers to The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law have easy access to important updates like this. The Digest also provides citations to the relevant state laws and regulations.

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo. Visit our website or give us a call: 800-400-1353.

The California legislature recently amended the California recycling labeling requirements for wine and spirits containers, making it significantly easier for wineries and distilleries to comply. The new law, AB 720, extended the deadlines for complying with the labeling requirements and authorized the use of QR codes for CRV compliance. Here are the specifics:

• The deadline by when all wine and spirits containers in the marketplace must have CRV labeling has been extended a year, from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026.
• The cut-off date for the permanent exemption of already labeled containers from CRV requirements has been extended 18 months, from January 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025. Now, any containers filled and labeled without CRV markings before July 1, 2025 will not need any additional labeling to be compliant, even if sold after July 1, 2026.
• Wineries and distilleries may now use half-inch high QR codes for CRV compliance. This creates an important precedent for other states to follow. We expect that QR codes will increasingly ease the compliance burden for recycling labeling as more states adopt the use of QR codes.

Subscribers to The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law have easy access to important updates like these. The Digest contains citations to the relevant state regulation.

For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to schedule a live screen-share demo. Visit our website or give us a call: 800-400-1353.