Litigator and alcoholic beverage attorney Corey Day contributed an article to Artisan Spirit Magazine titled “The Regulatory Response to COVID-19: Lessons for Moving Forward,” published Summer 2020. Day summarizes the regulatory relief granted in many states to U.S. distilleries harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on its effects in two main areas: as a short-term source of help for distilleries and customers, and as a long-term means for parties to permanently amend the laws in their states governing distilleries.
Day identifies some of the forms of relief states have instituted:
- Thirty states and the District of Columbia are allowing curbside pickup while emergency orders remain in place or until a specific date.
- Fifteen states and the District are allowing direct delivery to consumers, whether by delivery service or distillery employees.
- Thirteen states have instituted other forms of relief such as allowing licensed distilleries to expand their licensed premises to adjacent areas or the sale of premixed, to-go cocktails.
Day concludes: “We’re excited to see how distilleries will continue to support their communities and adapt to the drastic changes that COVID-19 has caused. Hopefully, some of the changes can be made permanent to allow distilleries to thrive, both in the current situation and when we get back to business as usual.”