Proposed legislation in Georgia would permit small breweries to self-distribute a limited amount of their product, eliminating daily off-premise sales caps and allowing direct charitable contributions.
Senate Bill 122, the Craft Beer and Local Economy Revitalization Act, follows attempts to modernize Georgia’s craft beer laws. Proponents say this has led to the closure of several breweries in the state and would bring the Peach State into line with national trends. According to the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild, 40 other states already permit some form of brewery self-distribution, and every bordering state has a higher daily to-go sales cap — or no cap at all.
“Our breweries deserve an equal chance to compete and deserve our support by reducing burdensome and inconsistent regulations,” state Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, said in a statement.
Last year, the Georgia Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee failed to advance a similar bill, marking the second year in a row the push died. Senate Bill 163 would have allowed “small brewers” to distribute up to 3,000 cases per year to retailers within a 100-mile radius without contracting with a distributor and allow brewers and brewpubs to donate products for charitable events.
“Georgia’s craft breweries are more than just places to grab a pint—they are vital to our communities,” Joseph Cortes, executive director of the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild, said in a statement. “When a brewery closes, it creates a ripple effect that harms local economies and limits consumer choice. Nearly every other state gives breweries more flexibility to grow, and it’s time for Georgia to catch up.”
