Massachusetts franchise protection laws may be the furthest thing from our minds while enjoying a cold beverage this summer, but recent legal developments have changed the way that alcoholic beverages make their way from distilleries, wineries and breweries to our tables.

These changes, while not readily apparent to consumers, mark an interesting turning point in the byzantine set of laws that govern liquor sales in Massachusetts.

Originally published in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly - June 24, 2021.