Sunday, 08 November 2020 Nashville's Metro Council passed legislation that makes the delivery of beer a permanent option for holders of an “On-Premises” or “On/Off Premises” beer permit. We find ourselves humming the classic Adam and the Ants tune: The Metro Beer Board will begin taking applications on November 19. We understand that the application process is streamlined and staff can grant temporary approval. Applicants will have to pay a $250 application fee, plus $100 annually, which is pro-rated on a calendar basis for the first year. Consistent with the emergency beer delivery regulation ..read more

Friday, 25 December 2020 The state of Tennessee has extended the time period allowing for carryout and delivery of beer, wine and spirits for restaurants. Restaurants, limited-service restaurants and wine-only restaurants can continue to sell carryout and deliver alcoholic beverages and beer. There is no additional license or permission needed to deliver. The state extended the privilege through 11:59 p.m. on May 31. By then, with any luck, legislation will have passed making the practice semi-permanent, through July 1, 2023.  The governor's order also ends all mask restrictions, exc ..read more

Friday, 25 December 2020 Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has allowing carryout and delivery of beer, wine and spirits for restaurants. Restaurants, limited-service restaurants and wine-only restaurants can continue to sell carryout and deliver alcoholic beverages and beer. There is no additional license or permission needed to deliver. Lee extended the privilege through to 11:59 pm April 28, which brings some needed stability to an industry battered by the pandemic. Lee continued the state of emergency for the longest amount of time under state law.  Health departments in Davidson, Hamilton, Knox ..read more

Friday, 25 December 2020 Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has extended the executive order allowing carryout and delivery of beer, wine and spirits for restaurants. Restaurants, limited-service restaurants and wine-only restaurants can continue to sell carryout and deliver alcoholic beverages and beer. There is no additional license or permission needed to deliver. Lee extended the privilege through to 11:59 pm February 27, which brings welcome certainty to an industry battered by the pandemic. Lee continued the state of emergency for the longest amount of time under state law.  Health departments ..read more

Sunday, 24 January 2021 Tennessee state Rep. Bob Ramsey has introduced state legislation that makes delivery of alcoholic beverages by restaurants, hotels and other liquor by the drink licensees “permanent” — at least for three years. Download a copy of the legislation here . Upon a quick reading, the legislation appears to be modeled after Governor Lee’s emergency orders that legalized delivery during the pandemic We hear Stevie Wonder’s catchy refrain: Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours, I'm yours There is one notable departure from emergency delivery of alcohol. The legislation attempts t ..read more

Sunday, 16 May 2021 The law prohibiting issuance of new liquor store licenses will expire on July 1, 2021.  At that time, the Tennessee ABC can issue new retail liquor store licenses. Many observers expected the Tennessee General Assembly to extend the moratorium or make the moratorium permanent during the 2021 legislative session. The thinking was that retail liquor stores suffered from wine in grocery stores (which we affectionately called WIGS). The moratorium on new licenses was seen as a way to potentially create value in retail liquor store licenses, at least in cities and towns wit ..read more

Monday, 05 April 2021 The Tennessee General Assembly enacted the “Business Fairness Act” last week.  The new law allows businesses to opt-out of stricter local health orders, starting on July 1, 2021.  This means that a business can pick and choose whether it will follow more restrictive local health mandates or the typically less-stringent state health requirements.  We see the new law as essentially gutting local control over future health pandemics.  During the pandemic, many restaurants, bars and other businesses in major Tennessee cities complained that capacity, opera ..read more

The Tennessee Distiller’s Guild featured a whiskey tasting at the Memphis Zoo’s June 4 Roar and Pour fundraiser.  Check out our photos from the event -  ..read more

The Tennessee Distiller’s Guild featured a whiskey tasting at the Memphis Zoo’s June 4 Roar and Pour fundraiser.  Check out our photos from the event -  ..read more

Downtown Nashville businesses are required to pay a fee, in addition to sales and liquor taxes. Effective July 1, state law increased the fee from .25% to .50%. The increase is allocated for downtown safety and cleanliness.   This means that downtown business owners are now paying 50 cents for every $100 in sales.  The CBID fee is imposed on retailers in the area generally bounded by the Cumberland River, Lafayette Street, Rosa L. Parks Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. The fee is for recruiting major conventions, cleanliness and security in the district.  The ..read more