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For suppliers of beverage alcohol, one of the most critical steps in getting to market is ensuring that their product labels comply with all applicable federal and state laws. An alcohol label contains critical information identifying the contents and producers, and as such it is highly regulated with rules at both the federal and state […]

Direct-to-consumer (DtC) spirits shipping is increasingly becoming a hot topic in the craft beer and spirits worlds, with both producers and consumers pushing for greater access. However, while 47 states and the District of Columbia allow wine to be shipped DtC, just six states and D.C. do so for spirits. Several states have bills that […]

Brandy registrations see impressive 322% spike from Q4 2021  As spring and the warmer months inch closer, beverage alcohol brand registration patterns are also continuing to creep higher. The industry is perhaps gaining a better understanding of how to move forward in a marketplace working through a pandemic. There were increases in Product Registration Online […]

Sovos ShipCompliant’s Alex Koral, regulatory general counsel, invited Tom Wark, executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers and author of the Fermentation Newsletter, for a conversation about the three-tier system’s role in the modern-day beverage alcohol regulatory landscape. Tom shares his take on how Prohibition may have initially shaped the approach to regulating […]

The three-tier system, under which beverage alcohol is predominately sold in the United States, establishes a clear distinction between the different “tiers” of the market. As it is designed to work, alcohol suppliers sell solely to wholesalers, who in turn sell solely to retailers, who then are the entities that consumers purchase alcohol from. In […]

We’ve previously discussed the details of direct-to-consumer (DtC) beer shipping, and what shippers must keep in mind to stay compliant. It’s also important to stay current on updates to DtC beer shipping regulations. That way shippers can make any necessary changes to remain compliant should more (or fewer) states allow beer to be shipped directly […]

The 2022 Sovos ShipCompliant Beverage Alcohol Summit virtual event included in-depth data analysis, discussions on the latest regulatory updates and insightful thought leadership. Here are some Summit highlights and quick facts from our sessions. Big picture industry updates Alex Koral, regulatory general counsel, Sovos ShipCompliant, shared some observations about the role of regulations in the […]

We’ve previously discussed the importance for producers to get licensed for the three-tier system when beginning to sell and distribute their alcoholic products. However, it’s also critical that when a supplier distributes into a new state, they first recognize if they will be selling into a “control system.” In the control state model, state agencies […]

This March, Sovos ShipCompliant released the second annual Direct-to-Consumer (DtC) Beer Shipping Report in partnership with the Brewers Association. The report features exclusive insights and data on the state of the channel, an economist’s review of the marketplace opportunity and key findings from a consumer preferences survey. Fast facts from the 2022 DtC Beer Shipping […]

Regulatory scrutiny is a constant in the beverage alcohol industry, and direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping is no exception to that. However, the DtC market does bring some unique regulatory concerns. The last several years have seen increased efforts by regulators to get a handle on the growing market, which has led to more audits and enforcement […]

Suppliers looking to get into the valuable and growing market of direct-to-consumer (DtC) alcohol shipping often need support from third parties. From setting up sales to managing shipping logistics to handling complicated tax filings, DtC alcohol shipping is often too much for any one business to deal with entirely on their own. Within the ecosystem […]

Among the many facts and analysis shared during our recent webinar on the 2022 Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report, a few really stood out. We gathered some highlights and key stats from the session. The report is an annual collaboration between Sovos ShipCompliant and Wines Vines Analytics, providing detailed insights into the DtC wine channel. The […]

By Andrew Adams, Editor, Wine Analytics Report This year’s annual Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report featured an additional set of data to help put the past two years of unprecedented winery shipment growth in context. Since the surge of shipment volume in March and April 2020, there has been sustained interest in trying to understand just […]

The three-tier system is the prevailing way that alcohol is distributed and sold in the United States, based on a clear cut distinction between different sectors (or “tiers”) of the beverage alcohol market. In the three-tier system, suppliers, such as producers and importers, are required to sell to wholesalers and distributors, who in turn sell […]

On February 9, the Treasury Department issued a report on competition in the beverage alcohol industry, identifying several areas where possible reforms could foster a more level playing field for small businesses, craft producers and new market entrants. The report was part of Executive Order 14036, initiated by the Biden Administration to investigate ways to […]

It’s hard to believe that the first month of 2022 is already in the rearview mirror, but the same way that time keeps moving along, the DtC wine shipping world continues to change. With more states implementing DtC shipping options — and some that took a step in the other direction — it can be […]

As the direct-to-consumer (DtC) beverage alcohol shipping market continues to grow, spurring more interest in the market, there has been a recent rise in, as it’s called, “three-tier DtC shipping” services. In this arrangement, a beverage alcohol supplier—a winery, brewery, distillery, importer or other supplier who might be looking to establish their own DtC program—works […]

This January, Sovos ShipCompliant released the 2022 Direct-to-Consumer (DtC) Wine Shipping Report with our partner, Wines Vines Analytics. The report is the most comprehensive, complete and exclusive collection of data and insights on the state of the industry. Wine shipments to consumers reached a record $4.2 billion in 2021, meaning this is a fantastic time […]