Minnesota Gov. Dayton would sign bill lifting ban on Sunday liquor store sales
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said Friday he'd sign a bill allowing liquor stores to open on Sundays if lawmakers muster the votes to pass it in next year's session. Dayton told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that he won't personally push for the bill's...
Liquor privatization in Pennsylvania might get a shot
A state budget deficit of up to $1.4 billion could open the door to GOP Gov. Tom Corbett's top priority — selling the state liquor stores. And while it's also been the No. 1 issue for House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Marshall, Senate Republicans, incredibly, have...
Brands suffer 44% decline following Facebook changes
Facebook has introduced a new algorithm that prevents fans of brand pages from seeing updates in their news feed - unless they pay for advertising. Facebook's new algorithm has affected brand's fan reach by up to 88% Since the update was instigated on 1 December,...
Washington: State bans sale of cheap liquor in downtown Olympia
The state Liquor Control Board on Tuesday banned the sale of cheap, high-alcohol beverages in downtown Olympia. Tuesday’s ruling means that the city’s new Alcohol Impact Area will take effect Feb. 15. Businesses within the impact area will no longer be allowed to sell...
Wine experts say holiday champagne recession is over
After years of resorting to less costly sparkling beverages, many wine experts said they will be popping champagne corks this New Year's Eve, which could be an indication of better economic times ahead. A 2012 study by Karl Storchmann, an economics professor at New...
Scotch Exports Set To Double By 2025, Says SWA Chief Executive
Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) chief executive Gavin Hewitt has predicted that Scotch whisky exports will double in value by 2025 to £8.5 billion ($13.9b), reports The Scotsman. Citing Scotch’s near doubling in the export market over the past decade, Hewitt also...
Canada Changes 12 Liquor Policies
B.C. PREMIER CHRISTY Clark has announced her government's support for 12 liquor policy changes. Those reforms were recommended by B.C. Liberal MLA John Yap, who led the government's recent liquor policy review. None of the supported proposals relate to the selling of...
Competition for Connecticut: Sales Tax on Wine & Liquor
Rhode Island has joined Massachusetts in removing the sales tax on wine and liquor; that means even more competition for Connecticut consumers. Just as the holiday party season starts, Rhode Island has eliminated the sales tax on retail wine and spirits. Lawmakers in...
The Convergence Consumer: Wine vs. Beer
ST. HELENA — Marketers of wine should be prepared for the full arrival of “Millennial” generation consumers at drinking age in the next two years, surging adoption of Internet retail sales and increasing understanding of “core” consumers as imbibers of fine beer and...