Many alcohol beverage industry clients are faced with lawsuits attacking product labels. These lawsuits can be frustrating for clients, particularly when the labels at issue were previously approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). But approval by the TTB does not insulate a company from a lawsuit under various state consumer […] The post So, You’ve Been Sued in a Labeling Class Action. Now What? appeared first on ALCOHOL LAW ADVISOR ..read more

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s (TTB) Office of Field Operations is responsible for ensuring industry members comply with the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, the Internal Revenue Code and all related regulations. It is divided into three groups: the Trade Investigations Division (TID), the Tax Audit Division (TAD) and the Intelligence Division. Many […] The post TTB Ramps Up Tax Audits and Enforcement appeared first on ALCOHOL LAW ADVISOR ..read more

Nonalcoholic beverages infused with delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) derived from hemp (aka intoxicating hemp beverages) are becoming increasingly popular for consumers looking for an alternative to alcohol. With major alcohol retailers like Total Wine entering the cannabis space, alcohol beverage producers may be looking for opportunities to leverage their existing experience in manufacturing, marketing and distributing […] The post Navigating Hemp THC Beverages appeared first on ALCOHOL LAW ADVISOR ..read more

Indiana is one step closer to passing legislation that would allow popular liquor-based, ready-to-drink products to be defined as “mixed beverages” that currently fall under the definition of liquor in the state. An Indiana House of Representatives committee advanced House Bill 1025 earlier this month. The bill would add a new section to Indiana Code […] The post Mixed Beverage Definition Gaining Traction in Indiana appeared first on ALCOHOL LAW ADVISOR ..read more

As we enter 2024, more and more brands are joining the nonalcoholic beverage space. An increasing variety of nonalcoholic, single-serve, ready-to-drink beverages are marketing the innovative use of indigenous botanicals, herbs or novelty ingredients found in other foods. This innovation has led to product development teams exploring the use of those ingredients for their alcoholic […] The post Don’t Assume Nonalcoholic Beverage Ingredients Are OK for Alcoholic Beverages appeared first on ALCOHOL LAW ADVISOR ..read more

In light of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) 2023 revisions to its Endorsement Guides, it is essential to ensure that your business is compliant. While the alcohol industry is known for product innovation, the industry is also embracing innovation on the marketing and advertising front, most notably with the use of social media. Given the […] The post Tips for Alcohol Suppliers Utilizing Social Media appeared first on ALCOHOL LAW ADVISOR ..read more

Sponsorships continue to be one of the alcohol beverage industry’s primary methods of promoting brands to drinkers. In professional sports alone, alcohol beverage brands contributed $480 million in sponsorship revenue across the four major professional sports leagues during the 2022–2023 season, according to a SponsorUnited study. As suppliers look to better target audiences via sponsorships, […] The post Contracts Corner: Sponsorship Agreements appeared first on ALCOHOL LAW ADVISOR ..read more

Total Wine & More (Total Wine) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are currently clashing in federal court over a civil investigative demand (CID) that the FTC issued to Total Wine, a third party in the FTC’s investigation of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, LLC (Southern Glazer). Total Wine has fervently resisted producing certain corporate […] The post Total Wine Tests the Boundaries of FTC CIDs appeared first on ALCOHOL LAW ADVISOR ..read more

While there has always been theft in the alcohol industry, there has been a significant uptick in large-scale larceny in recent months. Because of this reality, alcohol industry members should take steps to prepare for missing product. Below are some ideas to consider. Ensure you have adequate insurance coverage: While reviewing your insurance policy is […] The post How Industry Members Can Prepare for Alcohol Theft appeared first on ALCOHOL LAW ADVISOR ..read more

Over the summer, Maine’s Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages & Lottery Operations issued clarification of its ownership disclosure requirements for new applicants and existing license or certificate holders. We understand the significant impact this has on industry members and have summarized the updated guidance below. Like most states, Maine has a long history of requesting the […] The post Maine Disclosure Requirements Burden Industry Members appeared first on ALCOHOL LAW ADVISOR ..read more