These bills would exempt most brewers from Massachusetts franchise protection laws.
WSWM is not opposed to legislation which would exempt 99% of the true craft brewers (100,000 barrels or less). from the franchise laws. Larger breweries such as Sam Adams and others that are not true craft brewers, should not be exempt.
The proposed bill would limit the direct shipment of wine to consumers in Massachusetts to suppliers who produce their own wine at their winery.
The proposed bill would allow three or more independent package stores to file an application with the ABCC as a ‘cooperative’, and to combine their purchases in order to receive maximum discounts from the wholesalers. WSWM is opposed to this bill because there is less accountability, and is unfair to the small family-owned package stores across the state. WSWM does support a different bill that would allow a single corporate entity with two or more locations to purchase the desired quantities at discount and allocate product to their various stores.
This bill would allow package stores to sell alcohol in any size container approved by the Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The proposed ban on smaller containers in some cities and towns negatively impacts their small businesses. The banning small containers does not solve the perceived public health issue or littering problems. It only drives consumers to a neighboring towns, and encourages purchasing of larger quantities.
This bill proposed by the Mass Restaurant Association, would limit one-day liquor licenses to 14 days per calendar year. As a result of a loophole in the current law, local pop-up breweries can secure one-day licenses without a cap on the number of days. As a result, these ‘one-day permits’ are fostering outdoor destinations for entire seasons.
The current law negatively impacts nearby local restaurants who are required by law to pay for a myriad of costs, including oversight of alcohol sales, employee salaries and benefits and full -service indoor services such as bathrooms with plumbing. In addition, any restaurant serving alcohol must obtain a year-round liquor license which can be an expensive and time-consuming process.
One-day licenses were intended for special events, often with charitable organizations, and were never intended to become a weekly or monthly license. One-day licenses are also unregulated by the ABCC.
The proposed bill would ensure monthly reporting regarding out-of-state deliveries of alcoholic beverages to the Alcohol Beverages Control Commission (ABCC). These monthly reports will assist the Commonwealth in the collection of taxes and identify entities, such as wineries, fulfillment houses, and out-of-state retailers that are illegally shipping into the State.
