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retail delivery fees for alcohol shipping
Navigating Retail Delivery Fees: A Guide for DtC Alcohol Sellers

Direct-to-consumer (DtC) alcohol shippers are no strangers to navigating a complex regulatory landscape. However, recently, a new challenge has emerged—the rise of retail delivery fees. From excise taxes to shipping restrictions, the industry has long dealt with a maze of state-specific rules that require careful attention and precise compliance.   Read on to explore how RDFs […]

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dtc shipping law updates
DtC Shipping Laws: Key Updates for Alcohol Shippers

When engaging in direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of alcohol, compliance with different state laws is paramount and so keeping up with law changes is critical. In 2024, the rules in several states for DtC have already been adjusted or will change soon. Here is a review of the major rule changes DtC shippers should be aware […]

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dtc shipping laws for craft spirits
Why It’s Time to Reform DtC Shipping Laws for Craft Spirits

While wine lovers have enjoyed the convenience of direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping for nearly two decades, the craft spirits market is still not afforded the same access. Outdated and restrictive spirits shipping laws have kept the spirits industry from fully leveraging the benefits of DtC shipping, leaving both consumers and distillers unable to enjoy its full […]

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2024 Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Mid-Year Report
2024 Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Mid-Year Report

The direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shipping channel has seen a continuation of movement tracked in the January release of the Sovos ShipCompliant/Wine Business Analytics Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report, with the top destination states experiencing a dip in volume and value.  The latest data for the U.S. wine DtC shipping market reveals shipment data trending downward. Nationwide, […]

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craft distillers
Craft Distillers Are Struggling; Why Not DtC?

As craft distillers work to grow their business and market presence, they must contend with innumerable challenges, not least of which is simply being able to access consumers across the country due to restrictive state laws. To help relieve these headwinds, industry groups along with consumer advocacy organizations have taken to supporting efforts to expand […]

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Alaska DtC
New Alaska DtC Rules Set to Take Effect

A new regulatory framework for direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of beverage alcohol in Alaska is set to take effect on Friday, August 23, 2024.   These new rules govern how in-state and out-of-state producers can ship their products to consumers in Alaska following the passage of SB 9 in 2023, an omnibus bill that affected almost every […]

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New York DtC
New York Enacts DtC Shipping for Spirits and Ciders

Spirits, ciders and meads added to the list of products that are permitted to be shipped direct-to-consumer (DtC) in New York. 

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AI in Beverage Alcohol
The Prospects and Perils of AI in Beverage Alcohol

I recently had the privilege of speaking on a panel at the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA) Annual Conference, a regular meeting of regulators, attorneys and other members of the beverage alcohol industry to discuss important issues affecting our trade. Alongside Claire Mitchell, of Stoel Rives, and Erlinda Doherty, of Vinicola Consulting, and […]

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wine country millennials
Shifting Focus: How to Make Wine Country Interesting to Millennials

Guest blog written by Susan DeMatei, President, WineGlass Marketing WineGlass Marketing recently conducted a study to explore how Millennials and Gen X feel about wine, wine culture and wine country. The goal was to gain insight into how we can make wine, wine club and wine country appealing to these new audiences. Here are just […]

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New York DtC shipping
New York Poised to Expand DtC Shipping

The New York legislature recently passed A3132A, a bill that will expand the range of products that residents of the state can have direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipped to them. The bill is now in the hands of Governor Kathy Hochul—meaning that unless she decides to exercise her veto power, producers across the country will soon be […]

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19th annual Wine Summit
19th Annual Wine Summit: Highlights and Takeaways

Over May 8-9, Sovos ShipCompliant hosted its 19th annual Wine Summit. For two days, wine makers, managers, consultants, attorneys and other industry members gathered at the Napa Valley Marriott to hear from a cavalcade of experts on regulatory and marketing advice and updates related to the wine industry.  19th annual Wine Summit Recap from Presenters […]

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alcohol labels
Alcohol Labels: 3 Things You Need to Know

Often, the first thing you notice about a beverage alcohol product is the label. The typeface, imagery and colors used were all meticulously chosen to say something about the product and brand. But it takes more than an eye for graphic design to create a beverage alcohol label. There are several regulatory concerns at play […]

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dtc beer shipping
Talking Wine DtC Shipping to Brewers

Why is it that direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of wine is available nearly nationwide, but is only available in a dozen or so states for beer and even fewer for spirits? This is the question that underscored a recent panel I participated in alongside Steve Gross, VP of state relations for Wine Institute, and Sam DeWitt, […]

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craft beer drinkers
3 Reasons Craft Beer Drinkers Want DtC Shipping

While only 11 states and D.C. allow direct-to-consumer (DtC) beer shipping, more than half of Americans ages 21+ (51%) would purchase more craft beer if they were able to have it shipped directly to their home. In this blog, we discuss the top three reasons why craft beer drinkers want beer sent directly to them […]

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dtc spirits
States Are Looking to Expand DtC Spirits & Beer Availability

2024 is shaping up to be a banner year for legislative efforts related to the direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of beverage alcohol. While these proposed laws span a range of legal issues, the primary driver of the bills is expanding access to the DtC market for beer and spirits producers. Currently, 47 states and D.C. permit […]

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DtC shipping
How Producers Can Build a DtC Shipping Market

Direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping has become one of the leading sales models for businesses of all sizes and in all markets. The idea of connecting directly with consumers is notably attractive, as it helps brands develop a personal relationship and avoid costly distribution chains. Yet, for all its popularity, DtC is often a hard concept to […]

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2024 DtC beer shipping
Key Findings from the 2024 DtC Beer Shipping Report

This March, Sovos ShipCompliant released the fourth annual Direct-to-Consumer Beer Shipping Report in partnership with the Brewers Association. The DtC beer shipping report features exclusive insights on the regulatory state of the direct-to-consumer (DtC) channel, Brewers Association’s perspective and key data from a consumer preferences survey. Let’s take a deeper dive into some of the […]

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Florida HR 583
Florida HR 583 Set to Uncork Larger Format Wine Bottles

This bill was signed into law on March 28, 2024 and takes effect July 1, 2024. Florida wine lovers could soon enjoy a bigger selection of bottles based on a recent bill passed by the state’s legislature (HR 583) that would remove the existing cap on wine bottle sizes. What is Florida’s HR 583 bill? […]

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