Monitor Thy Drink: Alcohol Import Regulations Under the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau)
The final quarter of the year is the alcohol industry’s busiest period, accounting for approximately 70% of annual business. Many holiday-themed seasonal products are beginning to make their way to market, and it is important...more
In the world of healthy food and beverages, a crucial first step towards bringing a new product to the crowded U.S. market is identifying and understanding the regulatory authorities that oversee your product. This is not...more
If a large beverage company is considering purchasing or selling a craft beverage producer, it’s essential to understand how the craft producer may lose its earlier eligibility for reduced tax rates under the Craft Beverage...more
In 2022, the alcohol industry saw significant developments in the regulatory space. As we look to 2023, industry leaders continue to adapt to the changing needs of consumers, driving more innovation than we’ve seen in years...more
In the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s (TTB) final Industry Circular of the year, they provided DSPs guidance on how to calculate effective tax rates for distilled spirits products eligible for the Craft Beverage...more
The alcohol industry has proven to be quite resilient in 2022. As palates change and customers seek exciting new flavors and compositions, companies must be nimble to keep up with consumers’ needs and demands. Producers and...more
On February 9, the Treasury Department issued a report analyzing competition in the US alcohol industry (defined as beer, wine, and spirits), which outlined several proposed reforms aimed at improving competition in the...more
We recently posted that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued warnings to a large number of companies in various industries about “unfair” or “deceptive” trade practices related to third-party endorsements. Some of the...more
Crafting appealing alcoholic beverage labels that check the regulatory boxes and minimize litigation exposure is not as simple as deciding between shaken or stirred (hint: stirred, hands down). Our Food & Beverage Team...more
The alcoholic beverage industry is known for its ability to create new, innovative beverages that do not always fit neatly into the traditional categories of beer, wine, and spirits. Hard seltzer is one example of a new,...more
Alcohol beverage companies must contend with an ever-evolving regulatory landscape, including unpacking the new environment under US President Joe Biden’s executive order on competition. How do you differentiate as a brand...more
As alcohol products compete in an increasingly competitive marketplace, how do you differentiate as a brand while being mindful of regulatory landmines? Join us for the second webinar in our Alcohol Quarterly Update Series on...more
When you think of the relationship between alcohol and food, the classics come to mind: tiramisu, coq au vin and beer cheese. While there is a long culinary tradition of using alcohol in food, the newest trend is to utilize...more
As part of the general move to better-for-you beverages, non-alcoholic (NA) options have been and will likely continue to be on the rise. However, how NA is treated, or not treated, as “beer” has significant impact on its...more
Update June 24, 2020: Updated to reflect extended TTB waiver deadline of September 1, 2020. Closures of restaurants, bars, and taprooms in the wake of COVID-19 have resulted in beer becoming out-of-date or unmerchantable...more
Alcoholic beverage businesses are getting a small break from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). On March 31, 2020, TTB announced that they will be postponing the payment due date for certain excise taxes as...more
To meet the growing need for hand sanitizing products, various federal agencies including the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Federal Drug Administration (FDA), Health and Human Services (HHS) and Congress have...more
WHAT IS, AND IS NOT, ADVERTISING? At the outset it is important to understand what is, and is not, considered to be advertising or an advertisement under U.S. law. Generally speaking, as applied to any product, be it beer,...more
Congress just approved a much-anticipated, one-year extension of the federal alcohol excise tax credits originally granted in the Craft Beverage and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA). ...more
Bacardi U.S., Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit in Florida due the use of grains of paradise in Bombay Sapphire® Gin. In Uri Marrache v. Bacardi USA, Inc., et al., Case No. 2019-023668-CA-01 (Miami-Dade Cir. Ct. Aug. 9,...more
I. Factual Background - During the 34-day government shutdown occurring between December 2018 and January 2019, producers and importers of beer, wine and distilled spirits needing label approval to bring new products to...more
On August 12, 2019, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published its updated Formula and Process for Nonbeverage Product, TTB Form 5154.1. The Nonbeverage Product approval process is critical to obtain...more
On July 1, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (No. 182 and 183), proposing to amend the “standards of fill” for wine and spirits in response to several petitions...more
On July 5, 2019, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB”) issued TTB Industry Circular 2019-2 advising that certain eligible beer, wine, and spirits wholesalers and importers shall have until December 31, 2019 to...more