Dead distillers: Weird and wonderful stories of US whiskey and moonshine makers

Dead distillers: Weird and wonderful stories of US whiskey and moonshine makers Hard liquor has been made in the US for hundreds of years, but not without some hurdles along the way…   Independent By Kashmira Gander February 15, 2017 We’re so used to seeing Jack Daniels’ name emblazoned across bottles and merchandise from t-shirts […]

Florida: Changes in store for ‘liquor wall’ plan

Florida: Changes in store for ‘liquor wall’ plan   Source: News Chief Feb 16, 2017   A controversial proposal that would allow liquor to be sold in grocery stores was nearly capped in its first House committee as lawmakers expressed concerns about who could handle the bottles.   The House Career & Competition Subcommittee voted […]

New Mexico: Bill would make NM alcohol taxes highest in US

New Mexico: Bill would make NM alcohol taxes highest in US   Source: Sun-News Feb. 16, 2017   Rep. Joanne J. Ferrary, D-Las Cruces, has introduced legislation that would make alcohol taxes in New Mexico the highest in the nation.   Ferrary, a first-term lawmaker who had worked professionally for several years on combating drunken […]

RUSSIA HINTS AT ILLEGAL SPIRITS PROBLEM

RUSSIA HINTS AT ILLEGAL SPIRITS PROBLEM   Source: the drinks business by Natalie Wang 16th February, 2017   As much as 70% of spirits sold in Russia could be non-alcohol or ‘surrogate’ alcohol, Russia’s Industry and Trade Ministry announced at a press conference this week.   About 30% of Russia’s retail points of sales don’t […]

Kansas: Lawmakers take dim view on Kansas alcohol bill

Kansas: Lawmakers take dim view on Kansas alcohol bill   Source: News-Press By Zach McNulty Feb 15, 2017   Officials from Atchison, Kansas, face an uphill challenge in Topeka, where a bill is aimed at revising Kansas liquor laws to the benefit of alcohol manufacturers like MGP.   That bill, HB 2141, proposes amending the […]

It’s time for a flat tax on alcohol – health campaigners can drink to that

It’s time for a flat tax on alcohol – health campaigners can drink to that   Source: The Telegraph CHRISTOPHER SNOWDON 15 FEBRUARY 2017   Alcohol can cause problems and there are good reasons to tax it, but Britain’s system of alcohol duty makes no sense. Rather than tax alcohol, the government taxes drinks. A […]

Colorado: Kombucha bill seeks to cut federal alcohol taxes for trendy health drink

Colorado: Kombucha bill seeks to cut federal alcohol taxes for trendy health drink   Source: CNBC Christine Wang February 15th   Colorado lawmakers introduced a bill Wednesday that would update regulations on brewers of kombucha, a trendy fermented tea product.   The trace amounts of alcohol found in kombucha are a result of the fermentation […]

Florida: Opposition mounts to tearing down the liquor wall

Florida: Opposition mounts to tearing down the liquor wall   Source: Tallahassee Democrat James Call Feb. 15, 2017   The Florida Legislature is considering the repeal of a Prohibition-era rule that restricts liquor sales to package stores. Big box retailers like Wal-Mart and Target want to offer vodka, gin, whiskey and other spirits along aisles […]

Lloyd’s of London bans alcohol during work hours

Lloyd’s of London bans alcohol during work hours   Rule applies to staff rather than the insurance brokers and underwriters   Source: FT by: Oliver Ralph February 14, 2017   One of the last bastions of face-to-face trading in the City of London has raised the hackles of its staff by banning alcohol during working […]