A recent $5.5 million settlement payment from one of the country’s largest alcoholic beverage wholesalers serves as a good reminder that California law restricts the amount of late fees and interest that can be charged in connection with the purchase and sale of alcoholic beverages to retailers. Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 25509 provides that various alcoholic beverage manufacturers and wholesalers who sell and deliver alcoholic beverages to a retailer and who did not receive payment for such alcoholic beverages within 42 days of delivery shall charge the retailer 1% of the unpaid balance on the 43rd day and an additional 1% for each 30 days thereafter. In 2014, a Los Angeles-based retailer, Wiseman Park, LLC (“Wiseman”), brought an action against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC (“Southern”) in connection with Southern’s attempt to collect not only the Section 25509 statutory late payment penalty, but also a 1% per month “ca

Get advice from the alcohol industry’s top designers Wine is not just a beverage; it's an experience. From the vineyard to the bottle, every aspect of the winemaking process contributes to the unique character and personality of the final product. And yet, one of the most critical components of the wine experience is often overlooked: packaging and label design. Last year the Outshinery team worked with the wine industry's top designers to put on an event called Set your packaging for success. It’s been a topic that stuck, with people still talking about how this factor of any alcohol brand is essential to getting attention and building excitement and trust with consumers. Packaging and label design are critical components of the alcohol industry. They not only attract customers and communicate information about the product but also establish the brand's personality and differentiate it from its competitors. For brands looking to succeed in the highly co

Have you ever wondered how The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law (aka #TheRedBooks) works? Would you like to quickly print reports on regulatory topics across specific states? Check out this video and see how accessible legal research can be using this #alcoholindustry resource. 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. Check out our website. You can also reach us by phone at 800-400-1353.

Subscribers to The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law can opt to receive email notifications when rules are updated on The Digest’s website. The emails, which announce new additions to The Digest’s “Recent Updates,” are sent two to four times a month. If a topic of interest has been updated, subscribers can use the live link on the site’s Recent Updates list to go directly to the updated article. There, another link opens a window showing exactly what text has been changed, added, or removed. "I am really excited that we have the notification feature because it's a timesaver for busy professionals. It's like a news feed -- it effortlessly brings what's new to your attention,"  said Sara Schorske, head editor of The Digest. The Digest is an essential compliance reference for wine and spirits professionals. It covers statutes, regulations, and administrative decisions from all states governing the

The Annual SUNSET Magazine  International Spirits Competition  is Only 2 Weeks Away!  Submit your best spirits to be a part of this influential & prestigious competition! Learn More / Enter Now SUNSET Magazine, the leading media brand of the Western lifestyle is proud to announce the launch of the 3rd Annual Sunset International Spirits Competition. With the demographic of the Sunset Magazine reader base, the amount of social media followers and the number of magazine subscribers, this competition will be a must enter for all spirit producers desiring more exposure to a perfect audience. Sunset Magazine has sponsored an international wine competition since 2012 and is one of the most influential and popular competitions in the country. “From the martini to the Moscow mule, from the mezcal renaissance to the Rocky Mountain whiskey boom, spirits and the culture of cocktails have long been an integral part of the West. And Sunset has been there every step—a