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CALENDAR
March 7-8 - ABL Spring Board Meeting |Tampa Bay, FL
March 10 - Illinois Licensed Beverage Association - Legislative Lobby Day | Springfield, IL
March 11 - Illinois Licensed Beverage Association Board Meeting | Springfield, IL
March 15-17 - 22nd NABCA Legal Symposium | Alexandria, VA
March 30-April 2 - Tavern League of Wisconsin 80th Annual Spring Conference & Trade Show | Lake Geneva, WI
March 30-April 2 - 2015 Annual Spirits Conference & Vendor Expo | Louisville, KY
ABL & PUBLIC POLICY News
American Express Violated Antitrust Laws, Judge Rules
A federal judge ruled on Thursday that a longstanding practice by American Express aimed at
keeping customers from using other forms of payment violates United States antitrust laws.
Costco to ditch AmEx cards at U.S. stores next year
Warehouse club retailer Costco Wholesale Corp will stop accepting American Express Co's credit
cards at U.S. stores from next year, threatening nearly 8 percent of the worldwide annual
spending on its cards.
Marijuana
 Two More Lawsuits Seek To Stamp Out Legal Marijuana In Colorado
 Michigan marijuana legalization proposals - and a potential race to the ballot - in the
works for 2016
 Florida Might Have to Choose Between Casino and Marijuana
 Bill To Decriminalize Marijuana Inches Forward In Hawaii
 Maryland professor teaching students the business behind marijuana
 Vermont Could Become First State To Legalize Marijuana Through Its State Legislature
 Why does pot give you the munchies? Blame your brain
AFFILIATE News
Connecticut Package Stores Association
Liquor store owners: Malloy's proposal is 'asking for trouble'
Malloy wants lower liquor prices, extended store hours
Illinois Licensed Beverage Association
Rockford considers limits on slot-machine growth
Kansas Licensed Beverage Association
Retailers and regulators urge Legislators to ban powdered alcohol
Montana Tavern Association
Brewery bills tabled in committee
Tavern League of Wisconsin
Bill would allow painting studios to obtain liquor licenses
Assembly approves bill on hard alcohol samples in grocery stores
INDUSTRY News
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
TTB NEWSLETTER | Weekly News (Feb 20)
Alcohol Law Review
Wal-Mart Sues Texas Over Hard Liquor Restrictions
2015 ABL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
STATE News
Arizona: Bill may brew trouble for local microbreweries
The first bill is SB 1030, "The Arizona Beer Bill," which would allow microbreweries to continue
operating up to seven restaurants and bars already open for business even if the company
produces more than 40,000 barrels of beer annually, which equals about 1.2 million gallons. For
context, PHBC expects to produce about 23 to 32 barrels in 2015, about 700 gallons to 1,000
gallons of beer, respectively.
California: Assemblyman Marc Levine seeks to update state laws governing craft brewers,
distillers
As chairman of the new Select Committee on Craft Brewing and Distilling, Assemblyman Marc
Levine, D-San Rafael, wants to tackle the regulatory barriers he said make it difficult for craft
brewers and distillers to operate in the state.
Connecticut: His budget might induce drink, but Malloy wants lower prices
Unable to lower taxes and certain to cut services, it looks like Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will try to
lighten next week's austerity budget message with at least the possibility of cheaper booze.
Florida: Publix, Wal-Mart at odds over selling liquor in grocery stores in Florida
A wide-ranging alcohol measure that would allow shoppers to pick up fifths of Jack Daniel's in
the same stores where they buy groceries passed its first House test Wednesday over the
objection of Florida's largest grocer.
Indiana: Bill to allow Sunday alcohol sales moves forward, but with restrictions
Lawmakers are advancing a bill to lift the state's 80-year ban on Sunday sales, but with
restrictions that could lead to defeat of the proposal.
Kansas: Critics try to shelve Brownback's plan to boost liquor tax
If popularity of Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal for a steep tax increase on Kansas liquor was
measured by the number of people standing in line to buy it, the idea would collect dust on a
shelf.
Kansas: Fighting For The Right To Sell Strong Beer, Wine and Spirits
Last week, the Kansas House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development heard
testimonies concerning House Bill 2200, known as the "Uncork Kansas" bill. It would allow
stronger beer to be sold at convenience stores and stronger beer, wine and spirits to be sold at
grocery stores.
Massachusetts: You need a license for that; a guide to liquor licenses in Massachusetts
Since the end of prohibition, businesses have required liquor licenses to sell alcohol. In addition
to bars needing a permission to pull a tap, other businesses need a license to grow grains and
hops, distill and ferment before the liquor is bottled.
Ohio: Ohio House votes to ban powdered alcohol
A bill banning the sale of powdered crystalline alcohol has cleared the Ohio House with near
unanimous approval.
Pennsylvania: Distilleries are hot properties in Pennsylvania, midstate
Craft distilleries are planned in Lebanon, proposed in Harrisburg and already have opened in
Lancaster and York as a new wrinkle in the licensing for distilleries has caused a state boom in
business.
Pennsylvania: Former U.S. Rep. Tim Holden to chair Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
Gov. Tom Wolf has named fellow Democrat Tim Holden as chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor
Control Board.
South Dakota: South Dakota Governor Signs Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Bill into Law
On February 17, Governor Dennis Daugaard signed direct-to-consumer wine shipping legislation
(HB 1001) into law making South Dakota the 43rd state to allow wineries to ship directly to
consumers. The legislation establishes a wine direct shipper license to be issued by South
Dakota's Department of Revenue.
Texas: Kindred Spirits: Wal-Mart, Kroger Align in Booze Bid
One week after Wal-Mart sued the state for the right to sell hard liquor, two Texas lawmakers
and a new coalition of businesses are taking the same fight to the Capitol.
Virginia: Lawmakers are ready for happy hours
The House voted 99 to 0 Thursday for a bill that would allow restaurants to advertise drink
specials outside the establishment instead of just inside, as is the case now. The measure applies
to restaurants and not bars because, technically speaking, Virginia has no bars, just restaurants
that sell alcohol. The bill also allows restaurants to sell sangria by the pitcher, something
prohibited under a law that prohibits serving more than two drinks to a person at one time.
Virginia: Virginia General Assembly passes bill banning powdered alcohol
The Senate unanimously passed a bill from Attorney General Mark R. Herring and Delegate
Alfonso Lopez (49-Arlington) to ban the importation, sale, and use of powdered or crystalline
alcohol.
Wyoming: House committee advances bill banning powdered alcohol
The House Judiciary Committee has advanced a bill that would make it illegal to use, buy or sell
powdered alcohol in Wyoming.
BUSINESS & LIFESTYLE News
Pitt study sees YouTube as way to teach responsible drinking
And that's what concerns him. He and a team of Pitt researchers recently completed a study of
the 70 most popular YouTube videos that depict drunkenness and only 7 percent show the
negative sides of alcohol abuse. The analysis is being released today from the center.
More diners seek nutrition on menus
More Americans are committed to making healthful choices when dining out and restaurants are
giving them what they want, new research from National Restaurant Association finds.
Small brands swipe shelf space from big distillers
Craft brands and niche categories are outpacing more established names in the US spirits
industry, creating increased competition for shelf space, a new report has found.
New tactics more effective to cut binge drinking
Highlighting the benefits of not drinking alcohol to young people is more effective than warning
of the dangers associated with binge drinking, a new study has shown.
Albertsons goes with the flow of craft beer
As America's obsession with craft beer shows no signs of losing steam, shoppers looking to fill
their own growlers with upscale brews may not need to go farther than their local Albertsons
supermarket.
Same-Day Delivery Resurges, Adding Alcohol
But same-day delivery is making a comeback, with large Internet players like Amazon and eBay
entering the mix. And in that resurgence are small start-ups focused on a niche product: alcohol.
Women of the Vine Global Symposium: A Gathering in Napa Valley
Deborah Brenner is a connector. She wrote the book "Women of the Vine" in 2006 about
women's roles the wine industry, and ever since, she's been bringing women together to further
their careers in the wine world.
Walmart ups pay well above minimum wage
The company said 500,000 full-time and part-time associates, more than a third of its work force
at Walmart U.S. stores and Sam's Clubs, will receive pay raises in April to at least $9 an hour.
That will be $1.75 above the federal minimum wage.
Beer Sales Spike As Food Stamps Hit
It's a strange trend, one that could be significant to policy makers: When monthly food-stamp
distributions fall on a weekend, beer sales to that population jump - by up to 7%.
FTC Sues To Block Sysco-US Foods Merger
When a government blocks a merger between two businesses, it denies consumers the benefits
of the competitive response to the transaction. That's what the Federal Trade Commission is
doing. This week it sued to block Sysco Corp.'s $3.5 billion acquisition of US Foods, Inc. There will
be an administrative trial this summer.
Lettie Teague Takes on Ten Wine 'Truisms'
You've heard such saws as 'the higher the price, the better the wine' and 'Old World wines are
better than New World wines.' But are they fact or oenofolly?