Another front in the booze wars opened up this week, when legislation was introduced in the House to allow liquor distilleries to sell directly to consumers.
House Bill 460, sponsored by Economic Development Committee Chairman Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, the bill is similar to Senate Bill 63, which would allow beer brewers to also sell limited quantities to drinkers. Current law requires beer and liquor manufacturers to sell only to wholesale distributors who then sell to retailers.
HB 460 would allow a consumer to buy up to 3.5 liters of liquor per day directly from the distillery. SB 63, sponsored by Sen. Hunter Hill, R-Smyrna, would brewers to sell a customer up to 72 ounces of beer to drink at the brewery and and up to 144 ounces to take home. In layman's terms, these are daily limits equivalent to 4.5 pints on tap and a 12-pack to go, respectively.
The state’s wholesalers oppose both bills, which have yet to receive committee votes. Supporters of SB 63, which was introduced nearly a month ago, have started social media campaigns and petitions to urge Senate leaders to move the bill.
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