On July 17, 2024, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill No. 688 into law, now known as Act 86 of 2024. This legislation introduces a major change to the state’s liquor laws by permitting the sale of...more
Effective August 9, 2024, a new Maine law has streamlined the application process for obtaining a license for the wholesale or retail sale of liquor. This will be especially helpful for any bar or restaurant seeking to obtain...more
Throughout my career as a hospitality and liquor license lawyer, I have been on the front lines of many successes and challenges in the industry. From inception of the business through succession, I have learned from...more
Alaska's Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office (AMCO) on Sept. 18, 2023, released the much-anticipated Alaska Alcohol and Cannabis Information System (AK-ACCIS), an online web portal that will allow entities to apply for, renew...more
We always recommend you regularly review your state liquor licenses to ensure you hold the correct licenses for your business needs. However, given recent feedback from California regulators, you may want to expedite such a...more
Looking for a lottery ticket that could win you a highly coveted and valuable liquor license? If so, and you have $100 to spare, then you too can apply for the state’s “quota” liquor license lottery....more
Last week the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB) released information regarding its 12th auction of expired restaurant licenses. This auction is expected to have a significant impact on the culinary landscape across...more
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) will be auctioning 21 expired restaurant licenses on November 2, 2022. Sealed auction bids are due by October 31, 2022. The minimum bid for each license is $25,000.00....more
This week North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) announced the conclusion of a statewide operation resulting in hundreds of criminal charges against individuals and violation citations against ABC permitted businesses....more
If you are starting a food and beverage business that serves alcohol in Pennsylvania many questions come to mind: What type of license do I need? How do I purchase a liquor license? At what point do I need a lawyer?...more
With positive cases of the novel coronavirus on the rise, the State of Florida is cracking down on violations of COVID-19 rules through its Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The DBPR is going after...more
As virtually everyone in the US alcohol beverage industry knows, last week the US Supreme Court handed down its opinion in Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Assn. v. Thomas, S.Ct. No. 18-96 (June 26, 2019). Now that over a...more
In a decision with major implications for fans of wine, liquor, or free trade, the Supreme Court has affirmed a ruling that struck down a Tennessee law, which imposed certain residency requirements to operate retail liquor...more
The nascent cannabis industry is much like a younger sibling, riding the wake of its forerunner, alcohol. In joining the vice industry’s consumer products market segment, the cannabis industry has had the benefit of being...more
On October 15, 2018, we blogged about Tennessee’s regulations on licensing for retail sales of alcoholic beverages. Tennessee requires residency within the state for two years in order to obtain an initial license. ...more
On June 26, 2019, the Supreme Court gave persons and companies wishing to open retail liquor stores a reason to raise a glass. By a vote of 7-2 in Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas, the court struck...more
On June 26, 2019, the Supreme Court decided Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas, No. 18–96, holding that Tennessee’s two-year residency requirement for individuals and businesses seeking to obtain...more
• Public Act 100-0663, recently signed into law, amends the Illinois Liquor Control Act. The amendment provides municipalities the authority to allow local liquor control commissioners to grant exemptions to the state's...more
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board recently announced that bids are now being accepted for their 6th Auction of Expired Restaurant Liquor Licenses. This auction presents an opportunity for anyone seeking to acquire a...more
A recent change to the Pennsylvania Liquor Code has resulted in the creation of a new investigation and suspension process for Pennsylvania liquor licensees. Beginning in January 2018, the Liquor Control Board will begin...more
On November 16, 2017 the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (“PLCB”) released the results from its most recent auction of expired “zombie” restaurant licenses. The results of the highest bidders can be found at Auction 4 Top...more