September is National Service Dog Month! As we celebrate and commemorate these incredible animals and their teams this month, it is important to think beyond the fluffy-tailed cuteness to have a discussion regarding some of the everyday realities that service animal teams experience, and how this impacts your alcoholic beverage business. What Do Service Animals…
Managing your business during a crisis is never easy. The difficulty is compounded when the crisis is in your business AND all around you. Right now, as business owners and managers, you’re facing tough decisions about your staff and your business while staring down the barrel of uncertainty.
Recently we had a potential client contact us because the NC ABC threatened to shut down his alcohol establishment. Sounds sad, but we discovered a major compliance issue. The man, let’s say his name was George, was part owner of a nightclub in Downtown Raleigh. He received a letter from the ABC on Friday morning.…
A lot of buzz has been devoted to producing beer with hemp seeds and hemp generally. So much traction that the plethora of articles on the Internet suggest that this is a new category of beer. Actually, the first commercially available hemp-brewed beer came from Frederick Brewing Company in 1997. Recently, more breweries across the…
*This information is taken from the TTB. The full article can be read here. Transferring Beer The TTB recently made a change in how they interpret the law. Previously, federal law allowed only breweries of the same ownership to transfer beer between them without paying tax. Now, brewers can transfer beer between breweries not of…
*Please keep in mind that this is information is specific to North Carolina law. Contact an attorney in your state to find out specific information about this. A couple of weeks ago one of our clients who owns a brewery in NC informed us that the ALE was cracking down on dogs in the brewery’s…
*The information for this blog post can be viewed here. Information viewed here also supports this blog. Once your label receives TTB approval, you can change certain items on your label without submitting a new COLA label. Any changes you make to your label must be in compliance with federal regulations. You CAN: Delete non-mandatory…
*Please keep in mind that this is information is specific to North Carolina law. Contact an attorney in your state to find out specific information about this. *This information is provided by the NC Craft Brewers Guild. Read the original article here. North Carolina now allows breweries and distilleries to be featured on highway road…
*Please keep in mind that this is information is specific to North Carolina law. Contact an attorney in your state to find out specific information about this. *This information is provided by the NC Craft Brewers Guild. Read the original article here. As many of you know, if you have an On-Premise Malt Beverage permit…
We receive SO many questions about specimens. When do I submit one? How do I submit one? What type of specimen? And even, what is a specimen? Have no fear! Let’s break it down. Taken from the USPTO website: a specimen is a sample of how you actually use the mark in commerce on your…
We get a lot, I mean A LOT, of questions about the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and trademark legal stuff in general. So, if reading blogs about trademarks is not your thing, then you might want to skip our next couple blogs. The USPTO only: Reviews trademark applications and determines if the…
We have a HUGE announcement! We are so proud to announce the arrival of John’s book, Beer Law: What Brewers Need to Know After three years of dedicated hard work, it has finally hit the shelves! John’s book is available on Amazon and through our office. To buy the book through Beer Law Center contact…
Everything you need to know and probably more than you want to know about kombucha. I admit, I don’t think we have a client that produces kombucha. But, there must be a brewer out there who wants to know more about kombucha. Here you go: What is kombucha? Kombucha refers to a fermented beverage produced…
How do I sell private equity in my brewery? Do I need to present anything to investors? If you have these questions then keep reading! Any private equity or debt for sale is a . The Securities Act of 1933 created the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Securities fall under the Securities Act of 1933…
For this blog post I want to talk about two forms that are pretty standard for a TTB application, regardless of whether or not you’re a distillery or brewery. The forms are the Power of Attorney form and the Signing Authority form-both of which are linked below. What are the Power of Attorney and Signing…
Much like everything with alcohol it’s complicated. The ABC (specifically North Carolina General Statute §18-B-303 & §18B-400) details the exact rules, amounts, and volume of alcohol you can transport without getting a permit. I’ve divided alcohol into three categories: (1) beer, (2) unfortified wine, and (3) spirituous liquor & fortified wine. You do NOT need…
When you apply for your NC ABC permits you need to submit a Recycling Compliance form. We know that recycling is not the sexist or most titillating of reads, but hopefully some of you will find this information helpful. The information for this blog can be found here. Why do I have to recycle? All…
This week’s blog post might be a real downer to some of you who look forward to happy hour. *North Carolina does NOT allow happy hour for alcohol. Eating establishments can offer happy hour for food only. See ABC Rule 2S.0232 (b). The ABC Commission has compiled “Happy Hours FAQs” that sheds some light on…
Breweries want to advertise their products and their beer. There is a correct way to advertise products and a-not-so-legal way to promote your business and beer. Check out the FAQs surrounding advertising. A PDF was created by the NC ABC. Can I place a dry erase board outside my business to advertise beer or wine…
Information for this blog post can be found here. Be smart about how you advertise and market your beer. Common sense is important here. Always portray drinking beer in a responsible way. Beer advertising and marketing materials should NOT: Portray, encourage, or condone drinking and driving; Depict situations where beer is being consumed excessively, involuntarily,…