DISCLAIMER: This post does not constitute legal advice and is presented for information, education, or entertainment purposes. It is opinion and commentary, and merely attempts to review laws and their interpretation to assist businesses (and consumers) in planning. If you have questions, then please speak to your legal professional or the appropriate regulatory authority. Earlier this week, the Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule (link) effectively banning non-compete agreements for most workers nationwide. This significant development has wide-ranging implications for employers and ..read more

DISCLAIMER: This post does not constitute legal advice and is presented for information, education, or entertainment purposes. It is opinion and commentary, and merely attempts to review the alcohol beverage laws and their interpretation to assist businesses (and consumers). If you have questions, then please speak to your legal professional or the appropriate regulation authority. PERSONAL DISCLAIMER: I had the privilege of writing several brewery bills during the 2013-2019 timeframe and advocating for their passage. I was not asked to participate this time around, so I don’t have many pers ..read more

DISCLAIMER: This post does not constitute legal advice and is presented for information, education, or entertainment purposes. It is opinion and commentary, and merely attempts to review the alcohol beverage laws and their interpretation to assist businesses (and consumers). If you have questions, then please speak to your legal professional or the appropriate regulation authority. PERSONAL DISCLAIMER: I had the privilege of writing several brewery bills during the 2013-2019 timeframe and advocating for their passage. I was not asked to participate this time around, so I don’t have many pers ..read more

DISCLAIMER: This post does not constitute legal advice and is presented for information, education, or entertainment purposes. It is opinion and commentary, and merely attempts to review the alcohol beverage laws and their interpretation to assist businesses (and consumers). If you have questions, then please speak to your legal professional or the appropriate regulation authority. TL;DR: BEFORE WE GET INTO THE NEW LAWS, LET'S REVIEW WHERE WE ARE. There are new brewery laws on the books in South Carolina for the first time in several years! And over the next few days, we’ll take a look at wha ..read more

DISCLAIMER: This post does not constitute legal advice and is presented for information, education, or entertainment purposes. It is opinion and commentary, and merely attempts to review the alcohol beverage laws and their interpretation to assist businesses (and consumers) in planning. If you have questions, then please speak to your legal professional or the appropriate regulation authority. TL;DR: HEY, IT'S HURRICANE SEASON. TIME TO GET MOVING. We’re in the thick of Hurricane season. And as Hurricane Ian approaches, we hope that everyone in the potential impact zone is working to get prepa ..read more

DISCLAIMER: This post does not constitute legal advice and is presented for information, education, or entertainment purposes. It is opinion and commentary, and merely attempts to review the alcohol beverage laws and their interpretation to allow you and yours to have the crunkest spring break eva. If you have questions, then please speak to your legal professional or the appropriate regulation authority. Seems like a lot of people are on spring break this week and having a great time. And we are too.  At least for the five minutes it took to go through our photo bank to find ..read more

​When living the dream becomes a nightmare... It’s finally happening. You’ve spent years perfecting your craft, you’ve designed the perfect branding concept that’s unique to your vision, and you’re ready to open your own production facility. The last thing you need to do is make your brand official by registering your trademark. Then it happens, your trademark application is denied. Why? It turns out that some minute detail of your brand—a color, a symbol, maybe just a word—is too similar to another brand in a similar industry.  Sure, you can open without trademarking your brand but, de ..read more

DISCLAIMER: This post does not constitute legal advice. It merely sums up changes in the alcohol beverage laws to assist businesses in planning for the changes. If you have questions, then please speak to your legal professional.​ INTRODUCTION So, do you remember reading this past spring about the Gallo Winery pushing for law changes to come to South Carolina? Well, that happened. But, there was also another part of that bill that was tucked away. It’s called the South Carolina Micro-distillery Parity Act. Based on the title, you can imagine what the point of the legislation was. Since 2013 ..read more

Yesterday, Governor Henry McMaster and SC DHEC announced that the state will advance to Phase 1b of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan beginning Monday, March 8th. The approach is based on the state’s recognition that risk increases with age, certain medical conditions, and certain occupations. The state’s goal is to have vaccines for everyone who wants one by this summer. Beginning on Monday, March 8, the following groups will be allowed to begin making appointments: ​ Anyone aged 55+; Those with certain high risk medical conditions; and Frontline workers with increased occupational ris ..read more

As Hurricane Dorian approaches the Carolina coast, we hope that everyone in the potential impact zone is working to get prepared. Being based in South Carolina, we are very concerned for many of our friends and clients as the storm approaches. While everyone’s list of things to do might vary, we just wanted to offer a few things to add to the checklist, particularly if you own an alcohol related business. So, before you throw that hurricane party, make sure you take care of the things listed below. PREPAREDNESS TIPS 1. WATER. All of our producer clients in range of the storm should con ..read more