The North Carolina Senate recently passed SB 527, a bill that aims to provide increased convenience for spirits consumers by lowering the tax rate for spirits ready-to-drink cocktails, allowing cocktails to-go and delivery, and permitting holiday sales. Andy Deloney of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States praised the bill for benefiting local hospitality businesses and consumers. The bill now awaits Governor Roy Cooper’s signature to become law.
SB 527 defines pre-mixed cocktails and sets a maximum ABV of 13%, exempting them from the state’s mixed beverage tax. It also authorizes cocktails to-go and delivery, as well as allowing local ABC stores to sell on select holidays. These consumer-friendly measures aim to align North Carolina with other states that have already modernized their alcohol laws.
In a similar move, the Pennsylvania House Liquor Control Committee passed Senate Bill 688 to allow low ABV spirits ready-to-drink cocktails to be sold from retail outlets that already sell beer and wine products. This bill, endorsed by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, recognizes the consumer demand for greater access to these products and aims to treat spirits-based RTDs fairly alongside beer- and wine-based options.
Overall, these legislative changes in both North Carolina and Pennsylvania aim to provide increased convenience for consumers and support local businesses in the spirits industry. By aligning with other states that have allowed cocktails to-go and promoting a fair market for RTDs, lawmakers are responding to the evolving needs of consumers and the hospitality industry.
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