After more than 11 months of collaboration, research, conversations, and meetings NEW South Carolina Craft Beer Laws are being proposed in the state legislature. It should be no surprise to anyone that this state heavily favors the distribution tier of the three tier system which in our new post COVID reality crushes a breweries ability to generate revenue to compete. Enter The South Carolina Craft Beer Economic Development Act!
On Thursday February 23, 2023 the South Carolina Brewer’s Guild sponsored legislation Senate Bill S 0566, entitled the “South Carolina Craft Beer Economic Development Act”, was introduced by Senator Sean Bennett and a bipartisan list of 12 cosponsors. Currently the new bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further deliberation.
You can track the South Carolina Craft Beer Economic Development Act’s legislative process HERE and read the full text of the bill HERE. In addition if you would like full statistics on the economic impact of the craft beer industry in South Carolina and other states check out the Brewers Associations website HERE.
So, what’s on the agenda to modernize South Carolina craft beer laws?
The South Carolina Craft Beer Economic Development Act includes four priorities :
- Bonded Transfer: Allows licensed South Carolina breweries with multiple, like-owned locations to transfer their beer between these locations without having to buy the beer back from a wholesaler.
- Increased To-Go Limits: Allows South Carolina breweries the ability to sell an unlimited amount of product to-go from its taproom, eliminating the current 288 ounce per person, per day limit.
- Self-Distribution: Allows a licensed brewery to sell and deliver up to 2,000 barrels of beer to licensed retailers in this state.
- Special Events Permit for a Brewery: Allows breweries permitted in this state to pull a special event permit, without going through a nonprofit, to transport and serve beer at events that are promotional in nature.
To learn more about how this newly proposed law may affect your current brewery or your desire to open a new brewery in the state, please reach out to our alcohol licensure practice group.
Schedule a personal consultation to discuss how we can assist with your legal needs HERE.
