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Updated February 3, 2023 There’s a chance New York may soon allow direct-to-consumer spirits and cider shipping. Last Wednesday, New York Senators James Skoufis (D- 42nd District) and Rachel May (D-48th District) introduced Bill 2852, an act to “amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to authorizing the direct intrastate and interstate shipment of […]

Just about a year ago, the Treasury Department published a report on competition in the beverage alcohol industry, which posited several ways to reform federal and state regulations to help create a more even playing field for smaller producers. Among the many ideas proffered, changing how the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approaches and policies […]

Sovos ShipCompliant recently released the 2023 Direct-to-Consumer (DtC) Wine Shipping Report with our partner, Wines Vines Analytics. This look-back at 2022 is the most comprehensive, complete and exclusive collection of data and insights on the state of the channel. While 2022 saw the first-ever decline in either—let alone both—value and volume of shipments, the DtC […]

On Monday, January 9, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a petition to hear an appeal of B-21 v. Bauer, a case revolving around the issue of interstate direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping by alcohol retailers. B-21 stemmed from a challenge to a North Carolina law that allows in-state retailers to ship wine through third-party carriers to North […]

States have recently announced an uptick in age verification checks, including Massachusetts, which will be focusing on direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shippers through the end of the year. At the same time, wine, beer and spirits drinkers are more willing than ever to receive their favorite beverages via DtC  shipping, which makes now a great time to […]

Sovos ShipCompliant recently released the first annual Direct-to-Consumer Spirits Shipping Report, in partnership with the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA). The report features in-depth analysis of the craft spirits direct-to-consumer (DtC) channel through a consumer poll, as well as ACSA’s perspective on how the market can continue to make strides. Quick hits from the 2022 […]

The results are in—Coloradoans will soon be able to purchase wine in more stores than ever before. Proposition 125 allows for “grocery stores, convenience stores and other businesses currently licensed to sell beer to also sell wine.” This follows the expansion of full-strength beer sales in grocery stores, which took effect January 1, 2019. Any […]

Delaware State Rep. Mike Smith (R-Pike Creek Valley) plans to introduce legislation that will open up direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shipping to Delawareans. Currently, state residents can legally purchase wine through the three-tier system but are not able to purchase directly from a winery and have the product shipped to their front door. Smith’s bill would […]

As 2022 draws to a close, it’s time to look back and reflect on the year that was. For beverage alcohol regulation, 2022 saw an interesting mix of big changes on one hand and stagnation on the other. On the direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping front, there was little overall change, at least compared to the admittedly […]

Historically, the three-tier and direct-to-consumer (DtC) channels for beverage alcohol have operated independently, sometimes even viewing the other as competition. But in reality, there are many opportunities for a symbiotic relationship between these business units. For beverage alcohol producers that depend on both, a collaborative approach is imperative. DtC and three-tier—what’s the difference? First, some […]

By Robert M. Tobiassen, President of the National Association of Beverage Importers, Inc. (NABI)  QR codes are not new to beverage alcohol labeling, but they’re seeing a rise in popularity as consumers become savvier to the technology. Once bars are restaurants reopened in the summer of 2022, QR codes became the virtual menu tool of […]

Everywhere you look these days, it feels like there’s a new ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail on the market. These products have taken the beverage alcohol market by storm over the last few years, with seemingly everyone and their brewer now making their own margarita in a can. Consumers are clearly happy about this—RTD cocktails are now […]

While beer brand labels are a great way to set your product apart with clever marketing and design, there are rules brewers must follow while designing them. Beer labels, whether on a bottle, can or keg, have lots of information that is highly regulated, both at the federal level and by individual states. We’ve compiled […]

Wine has strong quarter, with 28% increase from Q2 and 8% year-over-year increase in registrations  The temperatures may be starting to dip with the outset of autumn, but beverage alcohol new product registrations are seeing increases across spirits, wine and beer. Similar to this time last year, wine new product registrations had a strong showing. […]

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) recently adopted new regulations governing the use of fulfillment houses by licensed direct-to-consumer (DtC) shippers of wine. Fulfillment houses have become a central, and invaluable, part of the DtC wine shipping market by offering wineries with critical storage and logistical services. They provide climate-controlled warehouses to […]

By Brandon Harvie, Product Marketing Coordinator at WineDirect   Just as the direct-to-consumer(DtC) wine industry is constantly evolving, so should the marketing strategies for your winery. Whether you are a small, family-owned winery or a massive multiple-brand enterprise, every winery needs to review how they are highlighting their business. Marketing can be an exciting part of […]

One of the most important assets that a successful beverage alcohol producer has is their brand. A clear, readily identifiable brand is critical for bringing consumers in and making sure they will become repeat purchasers. But as the number of producers has exploded over the last few decades, the likelihood of consumer confusion around a […]

All alcohol is divided into three parts—beer, wine and spirits. At least, those are the primary product types of beverage alcohol recognized by popular perception and defined by state and federal statutes. Determining what is in a bottle (or can or keg or firkin) is vital for anyone who manufactures, distributes or sells the product, […]