Direct sales from craft breweries, distilleries wins final OK

Georgia's craft beer breweries and liquor distilleries won a major victory Wednesday, as the state Senate agreed to a measure that would allow both types of businesses to sell their goods directly to the public.

The 52-1 vote sends Senate Bill 85 to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.

If signed into law, the bill would end a decades-old stand-off that has been especially tense between brewers and the state's beer wholesalers who for years have fought to protect their Prohibition-era position as middleman between beer manufacturers and retailers.

The bill would allow consumers to buy up to a case a day directly from a brewery to take home as well as buy a beer to drink on site. Brewpubs would also be allowed to sell beer to customers to take home.