How many times have you appreciated, praised, and publicly supported regulators? That’s exactly what WineAmerica just did as part of a coalition of trade associations representing the alcohol beverage sector, including our colleagues at Wine Institute and others representing beer, spirits and the wholesale areas. Together, beer, wine and spirits contribute $935 annually to the US economy. Sometimes we disagree, but not on the importance and professionalism of the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). From licensing to label approvals and trade issues, TTB’s coordinated federal regulation promotes efficiency and consistency compared with the possibility of 50 different systems created by the states. While it’s true that the states still regulate some aspects, such as direct-to-consumer shipping, the federal framework is vital in preventing total chaos. Our coalition wrote to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking that he “ensure that TTB continues to operate as a separate

As we all know, marketing wine and distilled spirits presents unique challenges. Beverage alcohol marketing requires awareness of trade practice and other laws, including a complex web of federal and state regulations addressing the range of permissible promotional activities. The tricks of the trade in common use for other commodities are often off-limits. Designing legal contests and sweepstakes is one of the more complicated aspects of advertising alcoholic beverages. Some states require pre-approval of these programs; in other states, you’re free to proceed without regulatory review, but may face a violation and fines if your promotion stretched the limits too much. Before you accept your marketing team’s next “great idea,” check the Digest of Wine & Spirits Law. The Digest features an entire section dedicated to trade practice, and specific sub-sections regarding consumer sweepstakes and contests for each state. The Digest gives you the information you

Supplier Beware: Proceed with Caution in Franchise States Beverage alcohol is marketed everywhere in the United States through the three-tier system, with product passing from the supplier to a wholesale middleman and then to a retailer before reaching the end consumer. But every state jurisdiction has its own very unique version of how the system works and is regulated. And in many states (the so-called “franchise states”), the rights and obligations between suppliers and wholesalers are strictly regulated, and can make it very hard to modify or change distributor relationships once established. Supplier beware! The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law helps give you and your legal counsel the information you need when approaching the delicate matter of appointing or changing distributors. On the Digest’s website you can quickly find the laws and regulations regarding wholesaler agreements and franchise requirements in any state. For a demonstration of The Digest, view th

Remember the days of thumbing through the phonebook looking for your state agency contact information only to find, when you placed the call, that the number had been changed since the phonebook was printed? And when you needed an out-of-state number, then what? Even these days, finding contact information on the web can be difficult. The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law takes the hassle out of finding the contact information you’re looking for with our comprehensive State Agencies page. On one page you will find contact numbers and addresses for the government offices involved in the regulation of the beverage alcohol industry. The Digest lists state alcohol agencies, tax authorities, and Secretaries of State, as well as links for further research into the rules and regulations that affect your business. The State Agencies page is regularly updated with current, correct information, taking the hassle out of getting the information you need. Contact us today to find out how The

Connect with consumers the way they connect with each other: in social media! Using social media to advertise is a great way to inform customers of special events or products, increase brand recognition, attract new customers, and ultimately increase sales. However, similar to any other form of beverage alcohol advertising, there are rules and regulations governing what we can say, how we can say it, and where. So, before your marketing team runs full throttle into this increasingly popular and effective platform, they’ll need to know the guidelines to follow. By using The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law you can look up the rules about social media advertising in every state quickly and easily, giving you the knowledge you need to stay in compliance while using social media to your advantage. 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!

Excise tax rates affect the price of every alcoholic beverage. Because of CBMA credits, federal excise taxes are more confusing than ever. And each state has different rates depending on commodity and ABV. Now some states have begun to establish special tax rates for spirits-based RTDs. Virtually everybody in your organization needs quick access to excise tax rates. DTC shippers pay the excise taxes in the states where their customers live. Although wholesalers often pay the state excise taxes on wine sold through the three-tier system, knowing what your wholesaler is paying helps suppliers set the price and determine the margin on your products. The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law’s Excise Tax table makes it easy to see how your products will be taxed, everywhere in the nation. More details are found in the Excise Taxes article for each state. Both are updated regularly. Take the hassle out of looking up the excise tax rates for wine and distilled spirits. Subscribe today and

When a wine or spirits company gives back to the community through charitable giving programs, they expect to realize various benefits that positively affect their bottom line, including creating solid working relationships with community leaders, boosting brand recognition, and of course tax deductions. However, to safeguard these benefits and guard against problems, your donations need to be made with care. In our heavily regulated industry, there are rules and laws about what kinds of donations we can make, to whom, and under what circumstances. The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law can help your business stay in compliance when engaging in these high-profile good works. The next time you consider making product donations to a fundraising event or an organization you want to support, visit our website at wineandspiritslaw.com and take a look at the state and federal regulations regarding charitable donations. No matter in which state the event is located, The Digest makes it fast and

With “The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law” you always have compliance expertise at your fingertips. Rules and regulations regarding wine and distilled spirits are constantly evolving, let us keep track for you with regular updates delivered to your email and available anytime at https://www.wineandspiritslaw.com. From now till the end of the year, we're offering a holiday special to help you fit The Digest into your company's budget. Send us an email or give us a call at (800) 400-1353 to request a sales sheet to give to your company's decision maker and receive a 10% discount code for your first year’s subscription. 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 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. The Digest’s regulatory content is divided into separate Digests for every state and the District of Columbia, including separate listings in states that have both state-controlled distribution and private-sector distribution. Every State Digest is organized in a standardized, easy-to-follow format. Its information is divided into seventeen major topics and numerous subtopics, all of which are easily searchable on our website. We also offer a similar Federal Digest in which selected sections of the of Federal Regulations (CFR) are included for your convenience. Legal citations are included with the relevant text. These references allow y