Control State News
AL: ABC brings underage drinking awareness to schools
VA: Legislative session leaves distillers in good spirits
License State News
MD: Pending legislation threatens to close as many as
25 Md. Wineries
SC: New bills call for mandatory training for all alcohol
servers, looser restrictions on distillers
SD: Alcohol delivery wins a final legislative OK
FL: Blaming alcohol for some of its crime, Miami Beach
may put restrictions on liquor stores
NY: Craft beverage satellite locations grow
International News
United Kingdom: US airports given green light to serve
takeaway booze – what could possibly go wrong?
Industry News
Brewers’ existential challenge: Make ‘amazing’ beer or
die (Excerpt)
Intellicheck's Reseller Agreement with Alcohol Industry
Associates Marks Another Milestone in Growing
National Adoption of Age ID
UPDATE 1-Kona beer is not from Hawaii, consumers say
in lawsuit
Daily News
Alcohol and caffeine created civilization: Column
Wine Retailer Association Announces Support for Long
Needed Texas Wine Shipping Bill
Online startup offers Mexican wines online
March 1, 2017
SAVE THE DATE
NEW!
AUGUST 15, 16, 17, 2017
2017 Alcohol Education Summit
The summit will be held at the Big Sky
Resort, Montana. Registration for our 2017
Alcohol Education Summit is now open. Call
for proposals and call for award
nominations is also open. Attached is a
flyer. They can register at
www.AlcoholServerTraining.mt.gov (code
with this link Alcohol Education Summit.
NABCA Legal Symposium
March 12-14, 2017
Arlington, Virginia
2017 National Conference Responsible
Retailing Forum - April 24-25, 2017To join the
mailing list for conference updates visit
www.rrforum.org or mail
[email protected].
NABCA Annual Conference
May 22-25, 2017
JW Marriott Marco Island
Marco Island, FL
If you have questions, contact the Meetings
Department at [email protected]
Large & Rural Party Enforcement Prevention
& Dispersal Training
May 2017
Law Enforcement Instructors wanted! Looking
to co-train with other experts in this field. This
Training is for: Law Enforcement; Coalitions;
Alcohol Service Providers; Probation & Parole;
Student Resource Officers. For more
information, please contact Jessica. This
training is brought to you by: The Northwest
Alcohol Conference (new website coming
soon!) Thanks for all of your support!!
Inaugural Beverage Alcohol Retailers
Conference
June 12-14, 2017, Minneapolis, MN
The organizers of the Beverage Alcohol
Retailers Conference is offering NABCA a
special members-only rate for this educational
event.
Early bird registration ends February 9.
Registration and sponsorship information is
available at ww.BevRetailersConference.com.
VIEW FLYER
NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
2017 NLLEA Conference
August 21-23 at the Skrivin Hilton Hotel in
Oklahoma City, OK. Rooms are available
$98/night. Click here for reservations. For
more information, visit the NLLEA website.
NABCA HIGHLIGHTS
•
Updates! Control State Info Sheets on the
following states. See website for
information.
•
Research: Powdered Alcohol: An
Encapsulation (updated 7/2016)
Grocery & Convenience Stores as Alcohol
Outlets (updated 6/2016)
•
Craft Products: Research and Legal Analysis
(4/2016)
•
NABCA Survey Database – now available
for members on the website.
•
Beverage Alcohol Control Agency Info
Sheet - The control agency info sheet
provides details about control jurisdiction
and how each regulates the product and
promotes alcohol awareness within the
respective communities.
www.NABCA.org
2
NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
CONTROL STATE NEWS
AL: ABC brings underage drinking awareness to schools
Dothan First
By Kasey Freeman
February 28, 2017
Just in time for spring break, students at Slocomb and Geneva County high schools were taught the dangers of alcohol.
Three-fourths of high school seniors and one-third of 8th graders have been exposed to alcohol and that is the reason some
middle schoolers were also involved in this assembly.
"Now they may not drink it regularly but they are drinking it," said Dean Argo.
12 percent of alcohol consumption in Alabama is from people between the ages of 12 and 20 making the Alabama Alcoholic
Beverage Control board most concerned about control of these products.
"It is not only illegal but it's also dangerous and it comes with great consequences," said Dean Argo.
At the age 16 a milestone moment is receiving a driver’s license and getting ready to graduate from high school but that could
all be taken away if they drinking underage.
"Their record will follow them," said Dean Argo.
Celebrities are role models for many and with students following their influences substance abuse is sky rocketing.
"Sometimes TV sometimes the entertainers we are listening to," said Carolyn Tyus.
With social media entertaining the minds of many it's always exciting to get a few follower.
But Mothers Against Drunk Driving want young people to get excited about doing just the opposite.
"Instead of being a follower be a leader just stand up," said Carolyn Tyus.
"Be not afraid to stand up and tell your friends hey look what you're doing is wrong, it's illegal, and it could harm you long
term," said Dean Argo.
Tyus urging students to confide in an adult like a teacher, pastor or coach and encouraging parents to be just as much of an ally.
"At the table you take away their phones you say hey we are starting to do a dinner where everyone eats at the table together
and you start the conversing with your child," said Carolyn Tyus. "Once you talk with your child more often and every day you
learn your child you can even see it in their face and body expression what's going on."
5,000 young people died last year because of alcohol being involved in vehicle crashes
There are two community colleges in our area with plenty of under age students
Statistics show 700,000 college students either saw a doctor or visited the emergency room last year because of alcohol.
3
NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
VA: Legislative session leaves distillers in good spirits
Richmond Biz Sense
By Mike Platania
March 1, 2017
With this year’s General Assembly session wrapped up, Virginia distilleries are celebrating slightly looser regulations and a
change in state policy regarding direct sales to restaurants.
Last week, Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed bills into law that allow Virginia distilleries to sell bottles of their products at festivals and
other events. The law will take effect July 1.
The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control also loosened a regulation on sales to restaurants, allowing mixedbeverage licensees to purchase Virginia spirits directly from distilleries. The policy change will take effect Aug. 1.
Previously, restaurants and other licensees had to buy spirits through ABC stores, while distilleries could sell bottles at events
only through a designated ABC stand or table, manned by ABC employees.
The bills allowing the event sales change were proposed by Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath), Del. Nick Freitas (R-Culpeper) and Del.
Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church) and were lobbied for by the Virginia Distillers Association, which also pushed for the change in
restaurant sales policy.
Amy Ciarametaro, executive director of the VDA, said the group was pleased to see the law become official and the policy
change decided.
“This was a logical next step for the industry,” she said. “We’re thankful the Governor, the General Assembly and the ABC
stepped up to make this happen.”
Ciarametaro said the new law should lead to more festivals in the state. Last month, the VDA announced it’s working to
establish September as Virginia Spirits Month, and Ciarametaro said the group is planning a Richmond liquor festival in fall 2018.
Curtis Coleburn, government affairs director for the VDA, said the restaurant sales update was just a change in ABC policy and
didn’t require an amendment to state statute.
“Now, if I owned a small distillery in a small town in Virginia and a local restaurant wanted to serve my product, they could get it
directly from me,” Coleburn said.
The changes mark two straight years of loosening regulations for Virginia distilleries. Last year, a law passed that increased the
amount of liquor distilleries can serve in tasting rooms from 2 to 3 ounces. Ciarametaro said it’s too soon to say whether the
VDA would continue seeking looser regulations on that front.
Virginia distilleries also benefitted from legislation that did not pass this General Assembly session.
A bill proposed by Sen. Bill Carrico (R-Grayson) that would have raised sales tax on bottles sold at ABC stores by 1 percent was
voted down in the state Senate in January.
LICENSE STATE NEWS
MD: Pending legislation threatens to close as many as 25 Md. Wineries
PennLive
By Paul Vigna
February 28, 2017
The Maryland Wineries Association (MWA) has been scrambling for the past couple weeks to have a proposed bill rewritten to
prevent as many as one-third of its wineries from being closed immediately.
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NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
House Bill 742, introduced by Delegate Warren Miller from Howard County on behalf of the Maryland State Licensed Beverage
Association (MSLBA), states that a farm winery license may only be issued to "a location that has as its principal purpose the
production of wine."
One of those businesses it would affect significantly is Old Westminster Winery, which produces its own wine but also formed
Maryland Wine Cellars last year. It's a full-service wine-making facility that area vineyards use to produce wines from their local
farm produce.
Wrote Drew Baker, who oversees the vineyard and handles marketing for Old Westminster, on the winery's blog: "They send us
their grapes for production, bottling, and labeling, and then we send it back ready to market in their tasting rooms. It's a costsaving resource that local vineyards have built their businesses on. This bill would undo years of work, time, and financial
investment. The farm wineries that rely on our space, equipment and expertise would be forced to either come up with millions
of dollars to build and equip their own wine-making facility, or go out of business. The current cooperative environment we all
benefit from would cease to exist."
Baker testified before the Legislature in Annapolis last Monday, at the start of a week of public hearings. As he told them,
wineries use "an ancient business model that supports rural economies," generating tax revenue and contributing to the state's
tourism. That also benefits shops, hotels and restaurants that surround the wineries.
He added in the blog: "While I understand the intent of House Bill 742 - to clearly define a 'farm winery' - I believe it's imperative
that we do this in a way that preserves farms, creates jobs, and supports local agro-tourism. The raw truth is that this bill will
put many good old-fashioned farmers straight out of business and undo everything we've worked so diligently to achieve over
the past 10 years."
Baker wrote that this law, if enacted in its present form, would close 25 Maryland wineries immediately. Per the MWA's
website, there are 72 operating wineries across the state that are association members.
Old Westminster has, in five years, turned into one of the state and region's top producers of premium wines, winning a variety
of awards and recognition by the Daily Meal's top 101 U.S. wineries.
The show will be featured on Instagram and Facebook every Tuesday at 1 o'clock.
HB 742 is one of several proposals legislators are considering, largely in response to a plan by Diageo, an international liquor
giant that owns the Guinness beer brand, to open a brewery and taproom in an old rum bottling plant in Relay, Baltimore
County. The company says it's aiming a create a "world-class beer tourism destination," one that would require $50 million to
renovate the building and create 70 jobs.
According to a Feb. 19 story on The Baltimore Sun's website, "while Diageo wants the state to create a special liquor license for
its planned operation, the Brewers Association of Maryland argues that lawmakers shouldn't carve out an exception for one
giant beer corporation at the expense of home-grown brands. The state's Licensed Beverage Association (MSLBA), which
represents owners of bars, restaurants and liquor stores, supports the brewing operation but not a taproom that might
compete with existing retailers."
Current state law doesn't allow Md. breweries to sell more than 500 barrels of beer a year to customers in on-site taprooms, the
story said. That many barrels equates to about 125,000 pints, according to Diageo, which expects to see twice as many visitors
in its first year.
The state's Brewers Association, which is represented by Grow & Fortify, is supporting a bill that wants any changes granted
Diageo to extend to every other beer maker in the state. Meanwhile, the MSLBA wants to would limit the ability of breweries to
sell directly to consumers.
Caught in the crossfire are the state's wineries.
Kevin Atticks, the founder and executive director of Grow & Fortify - which represents Maryland's wineries, breweries and
distilleries, said Monday: "Maryland Wineries Association is in discussions with the sponsor of the legislation and with the
licensed beverage retailers group to address their concern while protecting our 'wineries interests.' The sponsor has made it
clear he does not intend to harm the largely agricultural wine industry."
5
NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
SC: New bills call for mandatory training for all alcohol servers, looser restrictions on distillers
Bar Laws and Liquor Legislation
Charleston City Paper
By Dustin Waters
March 1, 2017
Some big changes could be in store for South Carolina's purveyors of beer, wine, and liquor. Among the slew of new bills
introduced in the Statehouse are proposals to require mandatory training for alcohol servers, as well as plans to lighten
restrictions on distilleries. So as these new bills make their way from the Capitol steps to the local dive bar, let's take a look at
what lawmakers are hoping to achieve and how these changes could affect your nearest watering hole.
First on the docket is the South Carolina Alcohol Server Training Act, also known as "Alli's Law" in memory of Alli Cousins, a high
school senior who died in a car accident after she was served several drinks in an Upstate bar.
Under this plan, everyone serving alcohol for on-premises consumption would be required by law to undergo specialized
training and earn a permit before they are allowed to pour another drink. Training courses would be conducted online or in
person by approved organizations and cover everything from state alcohol regulations to methods of managing "problem
drinkers." The course would be at least four hours long and conclude with a test. A score of 70 or higher is needed to receive a
permit, which would be valid for three years.
According to Senate Judiciary officials, 15 states currently have similar requirements for alcohol servers. The proposed bill
introduced by Sens. Luke Rankin and Brad Hutto would affect more than 6,000 locations throughout South Carolina that
currently sell alcohol. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are approximately 35,000 servers in the state —
all of whom would need to pay as much as $50 for the training course and $15 for the permit, payable to the state Department
of Revenue.
Jeremiah Schenzel, beverage director for Scarecrow and Feathertop and veteran bartender, says he can see the good and the
bad aspects of the proposed bill. In addition to his concerns over which groups are permitted to oversee the training course,
Schenzel points out that servers will find themselves missing a day's pay in addition to possibly having to foot the bill for
training. He also believes that much of the information presented in the class may be redundant for those employed in the food
and bev industry.
"You hope that employers are hiring people who know to be critical thinkers when it comes to knowing who and who not to
serve," says Schenzel. "It's built into the hiring culture around here. The days of thinking that anyone can be a bartender or
server are largely coming to an end."
Also up for consideration at the Statehouse is a bill that would allow distilleries to serve mixed drinks and ease restrictions on
the amount of alcohol that can be served. The proposed changes are considered good news for those in the business of crafting
their own spirits in Charleston.
"What we've been paying attention to is what's happening nationally with other states and mainly what I'm looking at is I want
to see positive changes for us to be able to basically pay our bills in the tasting room," says Scott Blackwell, cofounder of High
Wire Distilling Co. and president of the South Carolina Craft Distillers Guild. "Right now it's a hardship to have a tasting room in
some ways. You love to have it because of the marketing aspect, but, to be honest, right now it's dead. There's no one in here.
At three o'clock today there may be 20 people in here and there may be two people. So having an employee in here sitting
around for $15 an hour just doesn't make a lot of sense when we're selling tours for $5 a piece. It's just hard to break even."
Tastings in South Carolina can only be offered in conjunction with a guided tour of the distillery between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.,
Monday through Saturday. Under the current restrictions, distilleries holding tastings are limited to three half-ounce samples of
straight alcohol to customers. The amendments to the law being considered would not only allow for mixed drinks to be served,
but also increase to amount of alcohol that can be served to each customer.
According to Blackwell, there are 34 distilleries currently operating around the state. While High Wire has received plenty of
national attention — recently being named a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits
Professional — Blackwell hopes that the new regulations being considered will allow the distillery to offer a wider array of
services to draw more customers into the local business.
6
NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
"The idea isn't to become a bar. We're still closing at 7 p.m. We still close on Sundays. But it gives us some latitude to do some
educational things, as well," says Blackwell, who hopes to pair High Wire's spirits with mixers from local manufacturers during
tastings. "For example, if we wanted to do a bar class, we could have a mixologist from around town come in and do a class and
show people how to make five versions of a gin and tonic and they could sample that cocktail during that class. Now the law
doesn't allow that."
SD: Alcohol delivery wins a final legislative OK
Rapid City Journal
Journal correspondent
February 28, 2017
PIERRE | If the governor agrees, businesses could deliver alcohol orders of $150 or more to customers in their communities
starting this summer in South Dakota.
The state House of Representatives voted 66-2 Tuesday to allow the service. No one spoke against it.
Customers would still have to make the purchases in the stores beforehand.
“You pay on-site,” Rep. Herman Otten, R-Lennox, said.
The legislation would require delivery by an employee of the licensee who is at least age 21. Someone at least age 21 would
have to sign for the delivery and present a photo ID.
Retailers and other beer and liquor sellers supported Senate Bill 143.
The House vote marked final legislative approval. The Senate adopted it 34-0 on Feb. 16. The bill now goes to Gov. Dennis
Daugaard. If he signs it into law, it would take effect July 1.
FL: Blaming alcohol for some of its crime, Miami Beach may put restrictions on liquor stores
Miami Herald
By Joey Flechas
February 28, 2017
Looking to reduce crime and drunkenness, Miami Beach might create a new restriction that would prevent new liquor stores
from opening within 1,500 feet of each other, effectively limiting the number of stores that can open in some of the city’s
busiest commercial corridors.
The proposed ordinance, which will be up for a preliminary vote at Wednesday’s City Commission meeting, does not create an
exception for existing businesses. But the city’s planning department and one of the ordinance’s sponsors on the City
Commission told the Miami Herald more language will be added to protect stores that are currently operating
“The idea is not to put businesses that have been there for years out of business,” said Commissioner Joy Malakoff.
The change, proponents argue, would prevent liquor stores from opening up on each block. The city’s police department,
commissioners and businesses have long blamed alcohol for making South Beach’s entertainment district difficult to patrol,
dangerous and not family-friendly.
Currently, package liquor stores have to be at least 300 feet away from each other. City planners have not counted how many
stores would fall into this category, where they would be considered a “legal non-conforming” use. But on some Beach streets
that attract the most locals and tourists, there are several clusters of stores that would appear to be too close to each other
under the new rule, according to maps plotting the city’s licensed package liquor stores.
7
NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
Some stores on Washington and Collins avenues, for example, that are less than 1,500 feet away from each other would be
allowed to continue operating as is. If the ordinance passed as it is currently written, no variances would be granted on this
regulation.
The Beach commission has discussed how to limit alcohol sales several times — an approach that often stands at odds with a
popular image of Miami Beach as party central for tourists.
Last year, commissioners voted to prohibit alcohol sales at retail stores before 10 a.m. in an effort to prevent the homeless from
getting drunk in the early morning. Mayor Philip Levine wanted to move last call from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Ocean Drive, a
measure that did not move forward last year. Another Levine proposal to ban alcohol sales after 2 a.m. at sidewalk cafes did
pass in 2015.
NY: Craft beverage satellite locations grow
The Tribune
By From staff reports
February 28, 2017
ALBANY — It was announced Thursday that the number of craft beverage manufacturers operating off-site branch stores has
increased to 105 locations in 35 counties across New York, including two in Stueben County — Cunningham Creek Distributors in
Canisteo and The Brute, a Finger Lakes Focused Wine Bar in Hornell.
As part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's efforts to boost the craft beverage industry, all farm-based beverage manufacturers, including
wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries, are allowed to open off-site retail stores. With 32 new locations opening in the last
year alone, branch stores are increasing sales of New York-made craft beverage products, revitalizing communities with the
creation of new jobs, and rapidly becoming tourism destinations.
"The demand for New York's world class beer, wine, cider and spirits continues to grow, and by supporting the expansion of
craft beverage businesses, we are able to connect locally grown products to more customers than ever before," Cuomo said.
State Alcoholic Beverage Control laws have been overhauled to eliminate fees associated with opening secondary locations. The
law allows farm-based beverage producers to sell any farm-produced wine, beer, cider and spirits by the bottle and by the glass,
host tastings, open restaurants, operate gift shops, and manufacture and warehouse their products at branch locations.
The wine industry was the first to be allowed to open branch stores through Cuomo's Fine Wine legislation in 2011. In addition
to allowing farm wineries to operate up to five retail locations, the legislation cut down the amount of required paperwork,
reduced capital costs and consolidated winery licenses to simplify the approval process.
Prior to this legislation, farm wineries could operate satellite stores, however they were limited to off-premises "to go" sales of
their own products. Satellite stores were not allowed to sell their own product by the glass or any other NYS produced
beverages by the bottle, and were prohibited from opening gift shops or restaurants, or from manufacturing or storing alcohol.
They were also subject to more stringent licensing requirements.
In 2013, the Farm Brewery law provided the opportunity for breweries to open branch stores and in 2014, the Farm Cidery law
authorized farm cidery branches. Farm distilleries were permitted to open a branch store as part of the Governor's Craft Act,
which became effective on December 13, 2014.
Today, New York is home to 72 farm winery branch stores, up from 29 satellite stores in 2011. In addition, 17 farm breweries, 10
farm distilleries and six farm cideries have opened branch stores.
8
NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
United Kingdom: US airports given green light to serve takeaway booze – what could possibly go wrong?
The Telegraph
By Gavin Haines
February 28, 2017
While Europe tries to clamp down on sozzled air passengers, lawmakers in the US state of Missouri have approved a bill that
would allow the state’s airports to sell takeaway booze to holidaymakers. What could possibly go wrong?
Supporters claim the new legislation would encourage more business at airports and increase passenger satisfaction, especially
for those in need of some Dutch courage before flying. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
If approved, it would allow holidaymakers to drink alcohol as they wander around the terminals. Passengers would even be
allowed to quaff booze at the gate, though they would not be able to take drinks onto the aircraft with them.
While only bars located beyond security would be allowed to sell alcohol-to-go, critics are concerned that the new law could
encourage drunkenness at airports and on flights.
“You see examples of people who get violent or are just generally unruly and argumentative,” business traveller, Chris
Clarambeau, told USA Today.
“And the flight starts and then the plane has to get stuck and security has to come and take the person off the plane and a
hundred people on the plane have been inconvenienced because of it.”
Some US airports – including Nashville International and Portland International – already serve alcohol-to-go.
Shannon Sumrall, a spokeswoman for Nashville International Airport, told USA Today that there had been no evidence of an
increase in drunkenness since the airport started selling takeaway alcohol in 2014.
“It's been very well-received by our concessionaires and by our passengers,” she said. “There was a fear for airport police that it
was going to increase drunkenness, and we have no evidence of that.”
In the UK, policy seems to be going the other way. Aviation minister, Lord Ahmad, last year threatened to review alcohol laws
governing Britain’s airports in a bid to reduce incidences of anti-social behaviour.
Airlines, retailers, police and airports also announced a new crackdown on “disruptive” passengers, which would see them
forced to pay for any damage they cause as well the cost of as delays and diversions. The worst offenders will face travel bans.
Methods of preventing people from drinking duty-free alcohol on planes are being considered, while Jet2.com has taken the
step of banning alcohol from its early morning flights.
“We believe that stopping sales of alcohol before 8am on our morning flights is an effective way to ensure everyone has an
enjoyable and comfortable journey,” said Phil Ward, the airline’s managing director.
“We understand that we’re the first of the European airlines to take this bold step and call upon industry partners in airports to
also trade responsibly.”
9
NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
INDUSTRY NEWS
Brewers’ existential challenge: Make ‘amazing’ beer or die (Excerpt)
With over 5,000 craft brewers in the U.S., quality matters more than ever
Market Watch
By Jason Notte, Columnist
February 28, 2017
In the 1990s, amid U.S. craft beer’s initial boom, quality wasn’t an overwhelming concern for the nation’s microbreweries.
It should have been.
As some of the craft brewers that now rank among the nation’s largest began to find their footing, there was a layer of the
brewing community far more concerned with craft beer’s potential riches than with the beer itself. They saw the buttery
diacetyl of the early British-style beers from New England not as an exceptional flaw for English and Scottish ales and the
occasional Czech or Vienna lagers, but as a rule for their entire line of beers. They became enamored of gimmicky labels and TGI
Friday’s-inspired brewpubs, but not in the beer behind them.
Many of them also didn’t last. Though the number of breweries in the U.S. climbed from 284 in 1990 to 1,564 by 1999, that peak
led to a steep slide that left the U.S. with nearly 120 fewer breweries by 2005.
If you want to stay in business for more than a couple of years, you’d better be making some really great beer. It’s only getting
more competitive out there.Neil Witte, founder of Craft Quality Solutions
The current craft beer boom, however, increased the number of breweries in the U.S. from 1,447 in 2005 to 5,005 at the end of
2016. That’s a 346% increase that still lags the 550% jump from 1990 to 1999, but is finally showing signs of slowing.
According to Brewbound and IRI Worldwide, craft beer’s growth slowed to 4% by volume last year, the first time it hasn’t
increased by double-digit percentage points since 2004. Even the Brewers Association craft beer industry group notes that the
8% growth it saw by the middle of 2016 represents “a period of maturation” for craft beer.
As it stands, craft beer’s huge growth has balanced out some growing losses. Before 2013 and 2014, when there were 1,275 U.S.
— or roughly a quarter of the breweries that exist today, it was rare for the U.S. to lose more than 20 production breweries in a
year. In 2013 and 2014, the U.S. lost 79. If you throw brewpubs into that mix, the U.S. lost 126 breweries in those two years
alone. In 2015, the last year for which data was available, 67 breweries went out of business.
Even the Brewers Association thinks beer quality may be at least part of the problem. In 2014, the BA’s Technical Committee set
up a subcommittee dedicated to beer quality. It created a pyramid of priorities for brewers to address, produced a series of
publications to help brewers and, last year, named a quality ambassador to speak to state brewers guilds about beer quality.
In 2016, that duty fell to Elysian Brewing co-founder and former brewmaster Dick Cantwell. This year, former Boulevard Brewing
brewer Neil Witte takes on that responsibility. A former field quality liaison for Boulevard’s parent company, Duvel USA, Witte
has spent this year setting up his own business, Craft Quality Solutions, to help brewers with quality problems, including the
cleaning of tap lines and keg equipment and the management of out-of-date beer.
Click to review the full article including the interview.
10
NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
Intellicheck's Reseller Agreement with Alcohol Industry Associates Marks Another Milestone in Growing
National Adoption of Age ID
Expert Alcohol Licensing, Compliance and Employee Training Company Will Offer Intellicheck's Industry Leading ID
Authentication Technology Solution
Business Wire
February 28, 2017
JERICHO, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intellicheck Mobilisa, Inc. (NYSE MKT:IDN), an industry leader in delivering real-time threat
identification and bar-coded credential identification authentication that provides the "antivirus" to the epidemic of counterfeit
IDs, today announced the signing of a reseller agreement with Alcohol Industry Associates, a full service licensing, compliance
and training company for the alcoholic beverage industry. The reseller agreement will enable Alcohol Industry Associates to
rapidly deliver Intellicheck's industry leading Age ID® technology solution to clients that range from convenience stores, taverns
and restaurants to breweries, distilleries and wholesalers nationwide. The agreement means the company will be providing
customers with Intellicheck's state-of-the-art technology solution that is a vital compliance resource in preventing the sale of
alcoholic beverages to minors.
"We are pleased to add Alcohol Industry Associates to our team of valued channel partners. These veteran former industry
regulatory officials recognize that Age ID is the industry standout, delivering advanced capabilities that include real-time
identification authentication for government issued identification credentials such as driver licenses. Our product prevents the
sale of age-restricted products to minors, and also sharply reduces fraudulent sales. As our technology solutions serve an ever
growing number of state ABC boards, businesses and communities by providing the critical tools they need to tackle the
challenges of underage drinking, we continue to deliver on our commitment to our shareholders to partner with outstanding
channel partners who contribute to our success in achieving market expansion and growth,” said Intellicheck CEO Dr. William
Roof.
Alcohol Industry Associates President Kevin Anderson said the agreement with Intellicheck fulfills their ongoing pledge to their
clients. "We have used other ID scanning systems in the past, but we could not stand behind those products as we can with
Intellicheck's Age ID. We found other ID scanning systems came back with validations for various fake IDs. Age ID catches the
fake IDs that other systems couldn't. The prevalence and sophistication of fake IDs means businesses need to protect
themselves more than ever before, which is why we chose Age ID. This agreement with Intellicheck validates what we have
done and continue to do to assure our clients have the services they need and can be confident that they will be compliant with
local, state and federal level requirements."
Intellicheck's Age ID is an effective, affordable technology solution that reads the barcode data encoded on driver licenses and
government issued IDs, providing real time ID authentication and age verification. Fake IDs are instantly identified and warnings
simply displayed to the user. Easily and quickly deployed and operated, Age ID is available as an app for mobile devices, tablets
or can be integrated with point-of-sale systems. It draws on a comprehensive database, updated on an ongoing basis, to ensure
information is timely and accurate. Age ID provides the most up-to-date solution to the problem of spotting fake and altered IDs
with its ability to read more than 250 unique DMV barcode formats from every U.S. state, Canadian provinces and Mexican
states.
Intellicheck Mobilisa is an industry leader in technology solutions that are the "antivirus" to the epidemic of counterfeit IDs
providing virtual instant threat identification and identity credential authentication. Constantly evaluating fake barcodes, the
Company builds and releases new software code to defeat new threats as they evolve. Intellicheck's technology solutions equip
customers in retail, hospitality, law enforcement, national defense, and financial markets with enhanced tools to protect their
customers, businesses, facilities and people and improve operational efficiency and services. Intellicheck holds 25 patents
including many pertaining to identification technology. The Company’s products read, authenticate and break down
components of identity documents, including driver licenses, military identification cards and other government forms of
identification containing magnetic stripe, barcode and smart chip information.
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NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
UPDATE 1-Kona beer is not from Hawaii, consumers say in lawsuit
Nasdaq
By Reuters
February 28, 2017
(Adds details from complaint, comment from defendant, paragraphs 4,6) By Jonathan Stempel
Feb 28 (Reuters) – The maker of Kona craft beer was sued on Tuesday by two California shoppers who claim they were deceived
into believing the beer was made in Hawaii, causing them to overpay for it.
Sara Cilloni and Simone Zimmer said Craft Brew Alliance Inc
<BREW.O> misleads consumers about the origin of its Kona Brewing Co beers, saying the fifth-largest U.S. craft brewer makes
them in New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington state.
The plaintiffs said the alleged deception includes the use on labels of hula dancers, surfers, the Kilauea volcano, Waikiki beach,
and other images and phrases associated with Hawaii, as well as beer names such as Big Wave Golden Ale, Castaway IPA, Fire
Rock Pale Ale and Longboard Island Lager.
Despite this, nothing on the packaging makes clear where the beer is actually brewed, the complaint said.
"Consumers purchase items, and are willing to pay more for items, because they are from Hawaii," the complaint said. "Craft
Brew is well aware of this."
A spokeswoman for Craft Brew Alliance said the company does not discuss pending litigation.
The Portland, Oregon-based company also owns the Redhook and Widmer Brothers brands, among others.
A lawyer for the plaintiffs was not immediately available for comment.
Tuesday's lawsuit filed in the federal court in San Jose, California, seeks class action status and unspecified damages for Kona
purchasers in that state and nationwide over four years.
It is one of a handful of lawsuits that have accused beer sellers of deceptive marketing.
On Feb. 10, Wal-Mart Stores Inc <WMT.N> was sued in Ohio by a consumer who said it sold at a premium price what appeared
to be craft beer under the Trouble Brewing brand, but that no such brewery existed and the beer was contract-brewed.
Meanwhile, in 2015 a federal judge approved a roughly $20 million settlement of claims that Anheuser-Busch InBev NV
<ABI.BR> tricked consumers into thinking its St. Louis-brewed Beck's beer was actually a German pilsner.
An Anheuser affiliate owns nearly one-third of Craft Brew Alliance, Reuters data show.
The case is Cilloni et al v Craft Brew Alliance Inc et al, U>S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 17-01027.
DAILY NEWS
Alcohol and caffeine created civilization: Column
The craving goes deep into our past.
USA Today
By Chelsea Follett
February 28, 2017
No two drugs have defined human civilization the way alcohol and caffeine have.
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NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
Nature created both to kill creatures much smaller than us — plants evolved caffeine to poison insect predators, and yeasts
produce ethanol to destroy competing microbes.
True to its toxic origins, alcohol kills 3.3 million people each year, bringing about 5.9% of all deaths and 25% of deaths among
people aged 20 to 39. Alcohol causes liver disease, many cancers, and other devastating health and social issues.
On the other hand, research suggests that alcohol may have helped create civilization itself.
Alcohol consumption could have given early homo sapiens a survival edge. Before we could properly purify water or prepare
food, the risk of ingesting hazardous microbes was so great that the antiseptic qualities of alcohol made it safer to consume
than non-alcoholic alternatives — despite alcohol’s own risks.
Even our primate ancestors may have consumed ethanol in decomposing fruit. Robert Dudley, who created the “drunken
monkey” hypothesis, believes that modern alcohol abuse “arises from a mismatch between prehistoric and contemporary
environments.”
At first, humans obtained alcohol from wild plants. Palm wine, still popular in parts of Africa and Asia today, may have
originated in 16,000 BC. A Chilean alcoholic drink made from wild potatoes may date to 13,000 BC. Researchers now believe the
desire for a stable supply of alcohol could have motivated the beginnings of agriculture and non-nomadic civilization.
Residue on pottery at an archeological site in Jiahu, China, proves that humanity has drunk rice wine since at least 7,000 BC. Rice
was domesticated in 8,000 BC, but the people of Jiahu made the transition to farming later, around the time we know that they
drank rice wine.
“The domestication of plants [was] driven by the desire to have greater quantities of alcoholic beverages,” claims archeologist
Patrick McGovern. It used to be thought that humanity domesticated wheat for bread, and beer was a byproduct. Today, some
researchers, like McGovern, think it might be the other way around.
Alcohol has been with us since the beginning, but caffeine use is more recent. Chinese consumption of caffeinated tea dates
back to at least 3,000 BC. But the discovery of coffee, with its generally far stronger caffeine content, seems to have occurred in
15th century Yemen.
Before the Enlightenment, Europeans drank alcohol throughout the day. Then, through trade with the Arab world, a
transformation occurred: coffee, rich with caffeine, a stimulant, swept across the continent and replaced alcohol, a depressant.
As writer Tom Standage put it, “The impact of the introduction of coffee into Europe during the seventeenth century was
particularly noticeable since the most common beverages of the time, even at breakfast, were weak ‘small beer’ and wine. Both
were far safer than water, which was liable to be contaminated … Coffee … provided a new and safe alternative to alcoholic
drinks. Those who drank coffee instead of alcohol began the day alert and stimulated, rather than relaxed and mildly inebriated,
and the quality and quantity of their work improved … Western Europe began to emerge from an alcoholic haze that had lasted
for centuries.”
Coffeehouses quickly became important social hubs, where patrons debated politics and philosophy. Adam Smith frequented a
coffeehouse called Cockspur Street and another called the Turk’s Head, while working on The Wealth of Nations.
After the Boston Tea Party, most Americans opted for coffee over tea, raising their caffeine intake. Thomas Jefferson called
coffee, “the favorite drink of the civilized world.” Even today, Americans consume three times more coffee than tea. In the
words of historian Mark Pendergrast, “The French Revolution and the American Revolution were planned in coffeehouses.”
The Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution saw an explosion of innovation and new ideas. Living standards skyrocketed. New
forms of government arose. More recently, globalization took the classical liberal ideal of peaceful exchange to a new scale and
reduced worldwide inequality.
Today, despite population growth, fewer people live in poverty than ever before. People live longer lives, are better educated,
and many more enjoy the blessings of liberal democracy than was the case decades ago.
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NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug worldwide. Alcohol gave civilization its start, and it certainly helped the
species drown its sorrows during the grinding poverty of much of human history. But it was caffeine that gave us the
Enlightenment and helped us achieve prosperity.
Chelsea Follett is managing editor of HumanProgress.org, a project of the CATO Institute.
Wine Retailer Association Announces Support for Long Needed Texas Wine Shipping Bill
Yahoo Finance
By Business Wire
February 28, 2017
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With the introduction of HB 2291, Representative Matt Rinaldi confirms his position as a
champion of consumers and free trade and an opponent of protectionist economic policy. The National Association of Wine
Retailers enthusiastically endorses HB 2291, which, if passed, would finally allow Texans to buy and have shipped to them wine
from out-of-state wine stores.
Under current Texas law, Texans may have wine shipped to them from Texas wineries, Texas wine stores, and out-of-state
wineries. However, current law, endorsed by the state’s middlemen wholesalers, bans Texans from having any wine shipped to
them from out-of-state retailers.
Among the many detrimental impacts of this protectionist law is Texans being unable to buy and have shipped to them any
imported wines since in the U.S. only wine stores may sell imported wines such as those from France, Italy, Spain, Germany,
Portugal, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and other wine producing countries.
The discriminatory ban on Texans having wine shipped to them from out-of-state retailers also deprives them of joining wine-ofthe-month clubs, buying from wine auction houses, purchasing rare and hard-to-find domestic wines, and accessing a slew of
kosher wines not available in the state. Finally, the ban on Texans buying wine from out-of-state retailers deprives the state of
Texas of legitimate and needed tax revenue.
"Representative Rinaldi’s HB 2291 is a wish come true for thousands of Texans who have long been denied the ability to
purchase the wines they want and to those who value free and fair markets,” said Tom Wark, executive director of the National
Association of Wine Retailers. “While we expect the forces of protectionism and anti-free trade to oppose the bill, we look
forward to it seeing a hearing and ultimately passing.”
The National Association of Wine Retailers represents wine stores, Internet wine retailers, wine auction houses, wine clubs and
associated businesses located across the country. For more information see www.nawr.org.
Online startup offers Mexican wines online
Vid Mexicana has nearly 1,000 wines from 230 wineries
Mexico News Daily
February 28, 2017
For Mexican consumers, the internet provides a steadily increasing source of goods as more retailers offer their products on
line. One of the latest to do so is a seller of Mexican wines.
Wine drinkers in Mexico usually opt for foreign brands because selections of domestic wines are often limited, and what there is
can be pricey. But the online startup Vid Mexicana, which means “Mexican grapevine,” offers nearly 1,000 Mexican wines
produced by 230 wineries to consumers.
And some are not all that pricey.
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NABCA Daily News Update (3/1/2017)
“Consumers have an erroneous perception that Mexican wine is expensive, or salty if from a particular region, or bad if it’s from
another,” said the store’s founding partner, Luis Armando Gómez Garzón.
“So far I’ve learned that Mexico has a choice at all price levels . . . I’ve tasted some that were cheaper than 100 pesos and they
are marvellous . . . I’d say that Mexican wine suits all palates, and that there isn’t one wine that’s better than other.”
Gómez said people are very surprised when they get a chance to taste Mexican wine.
For him, the best wine “is the one you like. And everybody will find a Mexican wine to their liking . . . .”
The state of Baja California is where most of Mexico’s wine comes from — between 80 and 85% of national production. But
producers in other states — Querétaro, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Aguascalientes, Hidalgo, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Puebla and
even Mexico City — have slowly but steadily been consolidating their status as wine producers.
In addition to his store Gómez has created an online club. For monthly fees that range from 800 to 2,350 pesos (US $40 to $120)
members can receive from one to six bottles of wine every month.
The club also offers some discounts, access to wine tastings and wine-pairing dinners, workshops and oenological trips.
“With this business model we want to help producers and all the people dedicating their time to creating these wines . . . that’s
our job, to introduce these producers’ wines and at the same time help consumers try new ones,” said Gómez.
Vid Mexicana ships to all of Mexico’s principal cities with a delivery time of five to seven working days. There is a shipping
charge of 150 pesos for up to three bottles, and 150 pesos for each additional bottle.
The store accepts payment by credit card through PayPal, at Oxxo stores and by bank transfer.
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