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At Press Time

The WHISKY DETECTIVES

The vintage whisky business is big money – but the counterfeit whisky industry is even bigger. With a tremendous demand for rare vintage whiskies, the market has been flooded with fake bottles of worthless spirits. But even with all of the bogus whisky out there, collectors will go to great...
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JUST THE TAX, MA’AM . . .

The Massachusetts Senate voted in favor of a bill to increase the sales tax from 5% to 6.25% and for lifting the state sales tax exemption on alcohol sold at package stores.  The House approved the measure in April.  Both produced the veto-proof majority for the sales tax in opposition...
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A PASSPORT to BUY

There’s a new form of acceptable ID for buying alcohol in Massachusetts: a US passport card. Similar in size to a driver’s license the cards are authorized by the State Department and a substitute for the standard passport book. Liquor ID cards can be used for travel between the United...
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LABELS, LABELS, EVERYWHERE

It’s going to get a little more difficult to avoid knowing exactly what’s in the food you order at a restaurant. In May the Massachusetts Public Health Council approved new regulations requiring restaurant chains with 2O or more in-state stores to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards, including...
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SMOKING and DRINKING in NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire like many states, banned smoking in bars and restaurants a couple of years ago. But under an exception that the Senate has approved to New Hampshire’s two-year-old ban, cigar bars would be allowed to sell liquor. The bill now heads back to the House to review limits the...
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BEST IN SHOW COMPETITIONS WINE & SPIRITS

Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America’s first Wine and Spirits Tasting Competition was held at its Sixty-Sixth Annual Convention & Exposition in Orlando. Sponsored by the tasting panel magazine the competition proved to be a popular attraction and drew nearly 3OO entrants in the spirits and wine categories. The spirits...
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BIG BUCKS for a Wild Bird

Bourbon is big business these days and everyone wants a piece of it. Italian distiller Davide Campari-Milano SpA has agreed to buy the Wild Turkey brand of Kentucky bourbon from Pernod- Ricard SA for $575 million to expand in the US and Australia. Campari also acquired the American Honey liqueur...
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BRUCE WILLIS has a NEW MOONLIGHTING GIG

Bruce Willis is slated to appear in his next blockbuster but he won’t be burning up the silver screen. Instead he’ll be appearing in a series of vodka ads over the next four years, worth a cool $16 million. French drinks firm Belvedere has signed a multi-year partnership deal with...
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PRETTY in p.i.n.k.

Prohibition Beverage Inc. has acquired The p.i.n.k. Spirits Company. Founded in 2OO6, p.i.n.k. Spirits is the world’s first producer of ultra-premium caffeine and guarana infused vodka. The award-winning vodka is currently distributed in 41 states and five countries. In addition to the vodka, the company has several new additions: p.i.n.k....
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WILL BEER BE WELCOME in NH LIQUOR STORES?

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE LIQUOR STORES SELL WINE liquor and lottery tickets but they don’t sell beer. For now. McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm looking at ways to boost state liquor store profitability, suggested that selling beer from the stores could net New Hampshire six million dollars a year....
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