At Press Time

To repeal or not to repeal the state’s 6.25% sales tax on alcohol – that is the question Massachusetts residents will be deciding on November 2 when they head to the polls.  Ever since the Massachusetts Senate voted to lift the sales tax exemption on over-the-counter alcohol sales, the law... Read More

Davide Campari-Milano recently announced that it is expanding its portfolio. The Italian drinks company will buy three liqueur brands for a combined enterprise value of EUR128.2 million, as part of its strategy of expanding outside its Italian market. Campari said it signed an accord to buy Irish cream liqueur brand... Read More

It’s always nice to get a little good news, especially when it comes to drunk driving incidents. The number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the United States last year dropped to a historic low, according to new data released by the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration... Read More

There might just be a liquor license windfall coming to Boston. Thirteen Boston liquor licenses could be freed up if a proposal for a special airport liquor license goes through. The Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Logan International Airport, has drafted a petition requesting that the city grant new restricted... Read More

No more dry wine auctions! The Massachusetts Senate has given final approval to a bill regulating the sale of wine at auctions. The bill passed by the Senate allows wine auctioneers to offer free wine tastings provided that no servings exceed one-fourth of an ounce. Mouthwash has more alcohol in... Read More

Put this at the top of the “things that make you go hmmm” list. The New Hampshire Liquor Commission recently reported unaudited income for fiscal year 2O1O ending June 3O. Net sales for the year topped the half billion dollar mark at $511.4 million, an increase of 4.8 percent over... Read More

Give him points for innovation. Travis Kevie, a California man, recently broke into a shuttered bar, reopened the business and started selling drinks to unassuming customers, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s department. Unfortunately for Kevie, it wasn’t long before his new business went belly-up. The Sheriff’s department arrested the... Read More

The FOURTH ANNUAL U.S. DRINKS CONFERENCEis being held this year in New York City on OCTOBER 12 and 13.  The conference is designed to provide practical information and guidance on navigating the intricacies of the American wine, spirits and beer business.  The global gathering brings owners, entrepreneurs, exporters, importers, marketers,... Read More

And then there was none. The last remaining stocks of the legendary Black Tot Rum, the original Royal Navy rum, were recently released for sale at HMS Belfast on the River Thames in London. On July 31, 197O, also known as Black Tot Day, the last rations were given out... Read More

Some things are just no brainers. Don’t play in traffic, stay off the golf course during a lightening storm, don’t swim when drunk . . . Apparently, many Russians have chosen to ignore that last one. A prolonged heat wave across their country combined with massive consumption of vodka led... Read More