We’d like to take a second to present current legislation on the books for states around the country. This, hopefully, means that the oppressive laws currently instated are on the way out and a much more ”brewer friendly” environment is on the horizon. We pray that GA is next.
New Jersey: A bill is on the table to amend current law so that brew pubs would be allowed to produce 10,000 barrels of beer a year, instead of the present 3,000 limit. Brew pubs would also be permitted to operate 10 retail or dining establishments, not just two.
San Diego: Mayor Jerry Sanders has announced that June is craft beer month. This is to help spur growth of the beer industry in their city. Currently, in their city alone, over $400k of micro loans have helped start numerous nano-breweries. Increasing the tax base, and creating more jobs, along with giving their city a unique beer focused culture.
New York: In Albany the bill that was recently passed in the Senate (as part of a larger economic package) would give “those brewers who produce fewer than 6 million barrels annually a 14 cent per gallon tax credit for the first 200,000 barrels they make each year.”
According to the Daily News, Schumer is supporting the “BEER Act,” (GET IT?) which would offer microbreweries up to 50% tax deductions. Currently brewers pay a $7 tax on the first 60,000 barrels of beer, but the BEER Act would cut it down to $3.50.
Do we see a trend here? Yes, most cities are seeing craft beer as a great way to stand out, increase revenue, and create more jobs. We can only hope our law makers will take heed of this and move to foster the growing craft beer movement in this great state.
