Effective July 1, 2025, wine containers shipped to consumers in Maine under a wine direct shipper license will be added into Maine’s bottle bill program. Wine containers distributed through the three-tier system in Maine are already included in the bottle bill program. Further updates to Maine’s beverage container redemption were made with LD 1909 (2023 […]
Implementation of DTC Programs in Arkansas and Mississippi
We have previously noted the new DTC laws in Arkansas and Mississippi that will be coming on line later this year. Following passage of the Mississippi law, Wine Institute worked with the legislature to pass legislation (SB 2851) to remove the criminal penalties that were included in SB 2145 and replace with them civil penalties. […]
Arkansas Governor Signs Wine Institute-Sponsored DTC Bill
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed HB 1476 on April 16, 2025, essentially Wine Institute’s model direct shipping bill. Wineries will be able to ship up to 24 cases per year to any consumer without the requirement (currently) of being on the premises of the winery. The direct shipping permit will cost $50 initially and […]
Mississippi Authorizes Flawed Direct Shipping Model
The Mississippi legislature passed, and Gov. Tate Reeves signed, over Wine Institute objection, SB 2145, which authorizes permit-based direct to consumer shipping starting July 1, 2025. Unfortunately, a last-minute amendment, which we opposed, provided that any wine that is sold through the state warehouse/wholesale system cannot be direct shipped unless the wholesaler, broker or solicitor, […]
New Massachusetts DTC Requirement
Massachusetts allows licensed wineries, but not retailers to direct ship wine to consumers. To improve the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission’s ability to enforce the restriction on retailer shipping, Massachusetts passed a new law (HB 4698) that defines “brand name” for the purposes of direct-to-consumer shipping. Beginning Nov. 6, 2024, a winery holding a direct […]
Navigating Maine’s New Licensing and Reporting Requirements
Two important pieces of legislation became effective in Maine on Aug. 9, 2024, that will impact the way wineries report certain information to the state. The areas covered are ownership disclosure and direct shipment reporting and the imposition of new requirements on fulfillment houses that provide shipping and logistics services on behalf of a winery […]
New Nevada Requirements for Wineries and Fulfillment Warehouses
Wine Institute worked with Nevada regulators to develop guidance and key steps for compliance with new requirements for supplier Certificate of Compliance (COC) applicants, including California wineries, that utilize a fulfillment warehouse’s services to ship products to consumers or wholesalers/importers in Nevada on their behalf and fulfillment warehouses/3rd party logistics companies shipping products into Nevada […]
Alaska’s Final DTC Rules Effective Aug. 23, 2024
The long-awaited final rules governing direct-to-consumer wine (DTC) shipments to Alaska will become effective Aug. 23, 2024. The new rules replace the interim rules that wineries were unable to comply with and now mirror the SB 9 statutory requirements that were the culmination of more than a decade’s worth of work by Wine Institute. Here […]
Missouri ATC Simplifies Criminal Record Checks for California Residents
California wineries may now use the Live Scan fingerprint service to obtain criminal record background checks for Missouri Alcohol & Tobacco Control (ATC) Wine Direct Shipper and Out-of-State Solicitor license applications. For more details, go here. A criminal record check issued from the individual’s home state are required for the 1) sole owner, all partners, […]
Arizona Targeting Illegal Direct Shipments
The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (DLLC) has significantly expanded its enforcement efforts to stop illegal direct to consumer shipments coming into the state. In order to legally ship to adult consumers in Arizona a winery must obtain proper Arizona liquor licensing. The two licenses that are available are a Direct-To-Consumer Wine Shipment […]
