WASHINGTON
THREE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE DISTILLING MODERNIZATION BILL (H.B. 2609)
WASHINGTON DISTILLERS GUILD
1. MERGING TWO DISTILLERY LICENSES
The Washington Distillers Guild kicked off the new year by proposing a ten year Comprehensive Distilling Modernization Bill (H.B. 2609), which is now making its way through the 2018 State legislative session. We have high expectations that our proactive efforts to dialogue with the state LCB (Liquor and Cannabis Board) for meaningful improvements will bear the fruits of less complexity, more opportunities for DSPs to expand Tasting Room service, and a crack in the door for reducing state level taxation in the future.
WISCONSIN WISCONSIN DISTILLERS GUILD During the past months, the Wisconsin Distillers Guild has focused its attention on the creation of the Wisconsin Craft Beverage Coalition. The Wisconsin Distillers Guild, along with the Wisconsin Winery Association and Wisconsin Brewers Association (collectively representing over 300 small and independent businesses) have joined forces to establish this not-for-profit trade association which will serve as a unified voice to help educate policy
TOGETHER—merge the current “full” and “craft” licenses into one new license type and creating one nondistilling license- Brand Owner. 2. DEFINING THE OBLIGATIONS AND SETTING
STANDARDS of a distiller in Washington State. 3. MOVING TOWARDS CREATING
PARITY with wine in benefits. Our Board, led by our new president, Mhairi Voelsgen of Brovo Spirits, and our new Executive Director, Susan Welch, headed into the holidays with a super-
makers at the state and local level about the economic, employment, and tourism impact that local craft beverage producers provide to their communities. The Coalition will work to promote legislation that will allow Wisconsin's craft beverage industry to grow and thrive, while raising awareness of all legislative and special interest proposals that would harm our small businesses. Having united craft producers for the first time in Wisconsin, the Coalition was successful in its efforts to fend off legislative actions by the distributors
charged Strategic Planning Retreat to refresh our vision and mission. We also re-booted our core committees—Education, Events, Marketing and Regulatory Environment— in order to best serve the WDG mission: To create valuable business opportunities and help drive revenue for members through legislation and advocacy, marketing and events. It’s time now to roll up our sleeves and dig into the good work laid out in our plans: Preparing for our sixth annual PROOF event (July 7, 2018), re-configuring our quarterly general meetings to include an education track, and launching Phase One of the Washington Distillery Trail. Susan Welch Executive Director, WA Distillers Guild
lobbying to worsen the already inane state liquor laws. With public opinion and good public policy on our side, we now set our sights on improving our state liquor laws in 2018. For more information, please visit us at www.wisconsindistillersguild.com. Brian Sammons Founder/Distiller, Twisted Path Distillery President, Wisconsin Distillers Guild
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