The changing business scenario of alcoholic beverages
The changing business scenario of alcoholic beverages
The 21st Amendment to the constitution removed the national level prohibition of 1930's. Alcohol related laws are now formulated and enforced by the state legislature. A minimum age has been specified as the legal age for alcohol consumption. There can be minor variation on the minimum standard age state-wise. However after 1988, the minimum alcohol consumption age has been standardized across all the state to 21.
There are about 5000 brands of liquor available in USA. There has been a growing demand to change obsolete liquor laws. Virginia is probably the first state to change the outdated liquor laws. The state has let customers to sample new products. New Jersey, Vermont, etc have already changed the liquor laws to change the spirit sampling.
States have also embarked upon changing the obsolete law that bans selling alcohol on Sundays and Election Day. The forthcoming changes are aimed to cater to the growing demand among consumers. It is estimates that alcoholic beverages generate about $380 billion in U.S economy.
It is expected that easy laws will generate more revenue for the state governments. The opportunity to taste different types of liquor will also empower a consumer while purchase decision. All US states like Texas, Maryland, etc require a liquor license to sell liquor.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission was created in the year 1935 and takes care of all phases of alcoholic beverages industry in the state. It is an organization for the state government. The duties include-
1) Manufacturing;
2) Importing
3) Liquor related taxes;
4) Advertisement of alcohol;
5) Sale of the product.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code was enacted to protect the illegal trafficking of alcohol. The legislature bans people with criminal records from obtaining license. It is also illegal to overlap three marketing levels- manufacturing, wholesaling and retail business. Background investigations are conducted before allowing permits or licenses in this industry.
There are forms which are available online related to several activities in the industry. For example- There is seller training program which is a certification program that a seller needs to undertake.
In case you want to venture into an alcohol business in Texas it is better to know the legal aspects of Texas Business Lawyers. This is because commoners are under several myths related to alcohol. For example- US has a very lenient underage drinking law, drunkenness and alcoholism are same things, alcohol advertising increases drinking problem, etc.