Georgia lawmakers work to reform state brewery regulations

Yahoo

07-02-2025

Current Georgia law does not allow small brewers, such as brewpubs, to sell their own products on the market.
Senate Bill 122, the Craft Beer and Local Economy Revitalization Act, proposed in the 2025 legislative session would change that.
The bill would allow brewers and brew pubs to have a limited wholesale license to sell their own products, though it comes with conditions.
To have a wholesale license as a small brewer, sales of the products must not be higher than 15% of their overall sales in the previous calendar year.
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Additionally, the bill creates a provision to allow event holders selling drinks for charitable events to sell alcoholic drinks on site, so long as they are properly permitted for a 'bona fide nonprofit civic organization.'
Brewers and brewpubs will also be able to donate malt beverages to charitable events, though the legislation stipulates that how much is donated 'shall not exceed the amount necessary' for the event itself.
Any beverages not consumed during the event must be returned within 24 hours of the event's closure or when the event permit expires, whichever comes later.
Sales of malt beverages by brewers will also no longer be subject to a daily maximum if the bill passes. Current law sets a maximum of 288 ounces sold per day.
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However, they would still be limited to a 6,000 barrels per year cap 'among all brewer's licensed premises making such sales.'
In any given calendar year, if SB 122 passes, brewers would be able to sell up to 3,000 barrels of malt beverages produced at their licensed premises to wholesale retailers in Georgia, so long as they are located within 100 miles of the brewery.
The businesses will also be able to sell, deliver and ship to other licensed brewers, as well as receive and acquire shipments from others.
The Georgia Craft Brewers Guild has come out in support of the legislation, citing both its strong bipartisan support and how they say it would modernize the current craft beer laws in the state.
The guild said breweries 'serve as economic drivers, providing jobs, fostering tourism, and creating vibrant community spaces,' but that current law limits their ability to succeed, causing small breweries to 'close at an alarming rate.'
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'Georgia's craft breweries are more than just places to grab a pint—they are vital to our communities. When a brewery closes, it creates a ripple effect that harms local economies and limits consumer choice. Nearly every other state gives breweries more flexibility to grow, and it's time for Georgia to catch up,' Joseph Cortes, Executive Director of the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild, said in a statement supporting the bill.
Roswell State Sen. John Albers said he introduced the bill as a way to support Georgia small businesses, saying that 'our breweries deserve an equal chance to compete and deserve our support by reducing burdensome and inconsistent regulations.'
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