On March 15, the Alabama legislature gave final passage to HB176, sending it to Governor Bentley for his signature. This legislation allows breweries and brewpubs in the state to sell up to 288 ounces per person per day for off-premise consumption. It also removes unusual location restrictions for brewpub licensees in Alabama and allows for charitable contributions to nonprofit events.

We are extremely happy that this legislation was passed and look forward to the Governor signing it into law. Unless something unusual happens, this new legislation will take effect on June 1, 2016.

This legislation is expected to have a significant positive effect on the craft brewing industry and the Alabama economy.

This bill was the product of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Study Commission, which was formed during the Regular Session of 2015. The commission spent about 10 months considering issues from industry players and other interested parties with the goal of making Alabama’s alcohol industry competitive with other states. The members of the commission, including co-chairs Representative Alan Harper and Senator Paul Sanford, are to be particularly commended for their hard work, fair-mindedness and dedication to the study.

Of course, we also greatly appreciate our bipartisan and bicameral legislative sponsors, Representative Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) and Senator Bill Holtzclaw (R-Madison), as well as dozens of cosponsors. Both Representative Daniels and Senator Holtzclaw took a sincere interest in this legislation and worked hard to bring it to final passage.

This legislation was ultimately supported by the Alabama Wholesale Beer Association and the Alabama Beer Association, and we greatly appreciate their willingness to work with us and the Alcoholic Beverage Study Commission to develop a set of recommendations that we could all agree to.