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Resources
DISCUS Press Releases/Statements
- Statement by Distilled Spirits Council of the US President Chris Swonger on House passage of COVID-19 Relief Package Which Includes Critical Tax Waiver for Distillers’ Production of Hand Sanitizer
- Distilled Spirits Council Creates a COVID-19 Hand Sanitizer Portal
- Distilled Spirits Council Member Companies Donate More Than $8.1 Million to U.S. Bartenders Guild Foundation Emergency Relief Fund and Other Charitable Organizations
- Spirits Industry Letter to Senate Leadership Requesting Relief in COVID-19 Leislative Package
- Craft Beverage Coalition Letter to Congressional Leadership Seeking Support in COVID-19 Relief Package
- DISCUS & ADSA Sent Joint Letter Urging PA. Gov. Tom Wolf to Reconsider Closure of Fine Wine & Good Spirits
- Distilled Spirits Council Working With Congress to Ease Tax Hurdles Hampering Efforts to Produce Hand Sanitizer to Combat COVID-19
- DISCUS President & CEO Chris Swonger issued the following statement on COVID-19
Industry News
*Please share coverage with [email protected]
May 13, 2020
- Forbes: How The Covid-19 Pandemic Will Impact Irish Whiskey: The Challenges Ahead
- The Mercury News: Coronavirus: Drinking more at home? Booze prices jump 6%, biggest jump since 2007
- The Drinks Business: US alcohol sales rise at highest rate since lockdown peak
May 8, 2020
May 6, 2020
April 29, 2020
April 27, 2020
April 23, 2020
- Boston 25 News: Local distillery switching to hand sanitizer production amid COVID-19 pandemic
- ABC News: Essential workers around the country are going to great lengths for the rest of us
April 21, 2020
- Liquor.com: How Small Distilleries Are Adapting During COVID-19
- Washington Post: The new speakeasy: Uber Eats has turned into a rogue cocktail bar
- Penn Live: Pa. distillers selling ‘unreal amounts of booze’ during coronavirus pandemic
April 17, 2020
- Transport Topics: Partnership Formed to Get Masks, Hand Sanitizer to Drivers
April 16, 2020
April 14, 2020
April 13, 2020
- Punchdrink: Dispatches From Philadelphia
- Forbes: Pandemic Brews Battle Between Liquor Wholesalers, Distillers, and Online Retailers
- Fox News: Whiskey CEO delivers crucial N95 masks to healthcare providers
April 10, 2020
- Time: ‘A Chance To Do Our Part.’ How This Family-Owned Distillery Switched From Whiskey to Hand Sanitizer Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
- Fox News: Over 600 distilleries, big and small, now making hand sanitizer during coronavirus outbreak
April 9, 2020
- Leigh Valley Business: With Pa liquor stores closed, consumers are flocking to the border
- Fox News: Coronavirus prompts some states to close liquor stores, while others allows cocktail deliveries
- Fodors Travel: These Distilleries Aren’t Just Making Booze- They Could Be Saving Your Life
- WAMU: Alcohol Sales Spike Following Stay-At-Home Orders in Washington Region
April 8, 2020
- just-drinks: just-drinks’ Mergers and Acquisitions Databases March 2020
- WHSV: Booze Call: Distilleries can ship directly to consumers
- Robb Report: From California to Maine, Small US Distilleries Stepped Up to Make Hand Sanitizer in the Wake of COVID-19
April 7, 2020
- Fox News: Jack Daniel’s raises money for coronavirus relief
- The Wall Street Journal: Opinion: Prohibition Makes a Comeback
April 6, 2020
- Penn Live: One West Virginia county has stopped selling booze to Pennsylvanians
- CNN: In Pennsylvania you can buy liquor and wine again online, but only if you’re lucky
April 3, 2020
- The Florida Times- Union: Bacardi switches production from rum to hand sanitizer at Jacksonville Facility
- VPM: Why Are Viriginia’s ABC Stores Considered Essential?
- Punch Drink: The Big Pivot to Hand Sanitizer
April 2, 2020
- Fox 5 DC: Maryland liquor stores see uptick in business from Pennsylvania residents
- ABC News: Distillers, lawmakers pressure FDA to revise hand sanitizer guidelines to permit excise tax relief
April 1, 2020
- Penn Live: Pennsylvania reopening liquor sales online, but site currently overwhelmed
- Beverage Dynamics: How Liquor Stores Adapted to the COVID-19 Crisis
- The Spirits Business: Stockpiling drives US alcohol sales up 40%
March 31, 2020
- Roll Call: FDA is pushed to further loosen hand santizer guidelines
- Bloomberg: Liquor Brands Stir Up Support for a Shaken Bartending Community
- The Washington Times: Distillers’ attempt to fill sanitizer void threatened by FDA red tape
March 30, 2020
- Wisconsin State Journal: With medical supplies dwindling in COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin businesses switch gears
- The Emporia Gazette: One bottle at a time: Trolley House converts to making hand sanitizer
- Forbes: 12 Easy Cocktail Recipes For The Quarantined
- Forbes: In Pennsylvania, State Liquor Stores Remain Closed And People Are Getting Thirsty
March 27, 2020
- KYW News Radio: Pa. shoppers flock to neighboring states as Liquor Control Board considers reopening some online businesses
- The New York Times: Ethanol Plants Seek Rule Changes to Resupply Hand Sanitizer
- Fortune: The liquor industry faces an uncertain future. But if it survived Prohibition it can survive the coronavirus
March 26, 2020
- Forbes: As COVID-19 Imperils The Restaurant Industry, These Brands Are Here To Help
- Food & Beverage Magazine: Sagamore Spirit to Make Hand Sanitizer w/ John Hopkins
- Robb Report: Why Pennsylvania’s Decision to Close Liquor Stores Could Do More Harm Than Good
- Thompson Reuters Foundation: To fight coronavirus, distilleries, brewers, and even monasteries produce hand sanitizer for those most in need
- The Orange County Register: Why the coronavirus crisis is causing local distilleries to focus on hygiene instead of gin
- Food & Wine: How the Spirits Industry is Helping Out During the COVID-19 Pandemic
March 25, 2020
- CNBC: Bacardi CEO on its expanded hand sanitizer production
- Business Wire: From USA to France and From UK to Mexico, Bacardi Diverts Global Production to Increase Hand Sanitizer Supplies for Local Communities
- The Hill: Business groups cal for consistent definition of ‘critical infrastructure’ for coronavirus response
- Entrepreneur: Whiskey Producers Are Making Hand Sanitizer. Here’s How They Organized
- The Philadelphia Inquirer: Reopen liquor stores
- AARP: Craft Distilleries Step In to Ease Hand Sanitizer Shortage
March 24, 2020
- Chicago Sun Times: Liquor delivery apps doing brisk business amid the coronavirus pandemic
- Punchdrink: Tip Your Bartender
- Forbes: Coronavirus Threatens American Craft Spirits Industry
- Washington Examiner: Home delivery can save craft alcohol beverage products
- Adweek: A Bacardi Rum Factory is Now Producing Hand Sanitizer
- The Spirits Business: US distillers plea for economic relief
- CNA Luxury: Diageo pledges 8 million bottles of sanitizer for healthcare workers
- Beverage Industry: Spirits community rallies to help address hand sanitizer shortage
- Distillery Trail: Brown-Forman Announces $1 Million Donation to Support Organizations Devastated by Coronavirus
- Hawaiian Telecom: South Norwalk, Bridgeport Distilleries Enlist in America’s Hand Sanitizer Brigade
- Bloomberg: Distilleries and Breweries Are Retooling to Make Hand Sanitizer
- The New York Times: Beer and Spirit Makers Join Global Efforts to Make Sanitisers
- Just-Drinks: More drinks firms pledge industry support amid coronavirus virus
- WTOP: Local distillery, coffee chain making hand sanitizer for DC government
- Bacardi Limited: Bacardi Limited Commits $3 Million to Support the Bar and Restaurant Industry
- Fox News: Denver mayor reverses order to close liquor stores, recreational marijuana dispensaries after crowds swarm
March 23, 2020
- Town & Country: Distilleries Around the Country Are Now Making Hand Sanitizer
- Beverage Daily: US alcohol calls on Congress for economic relief for COVID-19
- The Spirits Business: Diageo donates 2m litres of alcohol for hand sanitizer
- Austin Business Journal: Central Texas distillers switch from making booze to hand sanitizer
- Shanken News Daily: Spirits Industry Calls on U.S. Government For Relief
- Fox News: Veteran-owned distillery making hand sanitizer during coronavirus pandemic
- Washington Examiner: Pennsylvania governor reconsiders liquor store closures
- Fox News: Tennessee distillery makes hand sanitizer to meet demand amid coronavirus outbreak
- WMUR9: Lee distillery making hand sanitizer for first responders throughout NH
- Distillery Trail: Pennsylvania State Run Liquor Stores Shut Down and Boarded Up – DISCUS Urges Gov. to Reopen
March 20, 2020
- The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio distilleries making sanitizer in fight against new coronavirus
- WhiskyCast: Distillers Hoping to be Part of Coronavirus Solution While Fighting to Stay in Business
- The New York Times: Distilleries Race to Make Hand Sanitizer Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
- Pittsburgh Business Times: Liquor trade groups urge against closing Fine Wie & Good Spirits stores statewide
- The Daily Item: Liquor lobby calls for state to rethink state store closings
- The Daily Wire: Distilleries Take Action To Help Americans In COVID-19 Crisis; Trump Cheers
March 19, 2020
- Bloomberg: Hand Sanitizer Prompts Distillers to Seek Tax Exemption
- Nasdaq: Distillers Seek Federal Bailout, Economic Reforms
- Forbes: These U.K. and U.S. Distilleries Are Making And Donating Hand Sanitizer
- The Hill: Liquor company Pernod Ricard USA to make and donate hand sanitizer
- Fort Worth Business Press: From alcohol to hand sanitizers: Local distillery switches in crisis
- The Hill: Distilleries convert operations to aid in coronavirus outbreak
- Forbes: Wholesalers Warn of ‘Black Market Liquor’ If liquor Stores Close Amid Coronavirus
- PennLive: Distilled Spirits groups ask Gov. Wolf to reconsider his coronavius-related shutdown of the state stores
- DC Eater: D.C. Restaurants Get the OK to Deliver Alcohol During Coronavirus Pandemic
- Delaware Online: Coronavirus Closes Liquor Stores in PA, Sparking Spike in Delaware Sales
- PennLive: PLCB boarding up at-risk stores as a safety ‘precaution’ amid coronavirus closures
- Bloomberg: To Save Restaurants, Chefs and Former Financiers Ask for Tax Relief, New Rules
- The Irish Times: Coronavirus: Irish Distillers to provide large-scale quantities of alcohol gel
- The Hill: Restaurant Industry Reeling Under Coronavirus
March 18, 2020
- Denver Business Journal: Independent Denver-area restaurants lay off more than 80% of staff; half are closing altogether
- Distiller: Craft Distilleries Around the US Step Up to Help Fill Hand Sanitizer Shortages
- Lebanon Daily News: Central Pa. lawmaker plans resolution to terminate Wolf’s coronavirus emergency declaration
- Shanken News Daily: Amid Restaurant and Bar Closures, Northeast Operators Receive Carry-Out Sales Waiver
- 6ABC Philadelphia: Pa. distillery shifts from making spirits to making hand sanitizer due to COVID-19
- WSBTV Atlanta: Greater good: Local distillery now making hand sanitizer for first responders
- The Drinks Business: New York restaurants and bars can sell alcohol to go
- WSLS: Distilleries using high-proof alcohol to make hand sanitizer
- Beverage Dynamics: DISCUS Working with Politicians to Mitigate Coronavirus Impact on Alcohol Industry
- The Washington Times: Liquor stores struggle with quarantine-fueled demand for booze
- First Coast News: St. Augustine Distillery making hand sanitizer amid coronavirus outbreak
- The Salt Lake Tribune: Coronavirus prompts jump in Utah liquor sales, but stores remain open amid staff shortage and some empty shelves
- The Spirits Business: Discus Working to ‘minmize disruption’
March 17, 2020
- CT.Gov: CT-Effective Immediately DRS Extends Filing Deadline for Certain Annual State Business Tax Returns
- Washington Post: It’s ‘quarantini’ time. People say cheers to video happy hours when they’re stuck at home.
- Imbibe Magazine: How to Help The Hospitality Industry During COVID-19 Bar Closures
- AL.com: 78 state-owned ABC liquor stores closing; open stores limited to 5 customers at a time
- The Hill: At least 20 states order partial closures of restaurants, bars amid coronavirus
- U.S. News: The Secret to a Great Irish Coffee Isn’t What You’d Expect
- The Spirits Business: DISCUS working to minimise disruption
- The New York Times: It’s No Crime to Drink Wine by Yourself
- Forbes: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Says Restaurants And Bars Can Sell Alcohol To Go After Bar Shutdown
- AP: Distilleries using high-proof alcohol to make hand sanitizer
March 16, 2020
- The Morning Call: Pennsylvania liquor stores to close, online sales to cease, as Wolf orders shutdown
- Distillery Trail: TTB Addresses Alcohol Returns for Large Events Canceled Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- WhiskyCast: Coronavirus pandemic impacting whisky tourism and events
- WhiskyCast: Coronavirus has whisky lovers facing bans on distillery tours & festival
- Robb Report: The Whisky and Spirits Industry Expects to Lose More Than $200 Million Due to the Coronavirus
- USA TODAY: California, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington close bars and restaurants in effort to slow coronavirus
- KXXV: Gov. Abbott waives laws to allow trucks from alcohol industry to deliver grocery supplies
- Boston Globe: Massachusetts restaurants react to Gov. Baker’s order to halt dining in for 3 weeks
- WhiskyCast: CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IMPACTING WHISKY TOURISM AND EVENTS
- The Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Company: The Sobering Effect of Covid-19 on The Irish Whiskey Industry #CoronaVirus
- KOB4: COVID-19: State issues public health order limiting restaurant, bar occupancy to no more than 50%
- The Spirits Business: Campari donates €1m to coronavirus ‘emergency’
- Popculture.: Kid Rock’s Nashville Bar Refuses to Close Amid Coronavirus Concerns, Calls Mayor’s Mandate ‘Unconstitutional’
Social Media
*DM us with relevant posts – @distilledspirit.
MDOT purchased #handsanitizer from @jaimewindon, owner of Windon Distilling, & RB Wolfensberger, lead distiller/co-owner (w/wife Megan Brown) of @GrayWolfCraft, who talk about @marylandspirits delivering during #COVID19 @talbotchamber @DistilledSpirit #FrontlineMDOTforYou pic.twitter.com/mo55VV99vX
— MDTransportationDept (@MDOTNews) April 6, 2020
THEN, take action here: https://t.co/2MY6DNpoym
— Spirits United (@SpiritsUnited) March 24, 2020
We're #DistillersUnited4aCause. We need EVERYONE to help distillers and the hospitality sector during this difficult time. @DistilledSpirit @ChrisRSwonger @TNDistillersGld @TIPSTraining @TexasDistillers @TexasWhiskeyOrg @nydistilled @KyDistillers @MLBAorg @Distilling
— Spirits United (@SpiritsUnited) March 24, 2020
This is what #StillStrongTX looks like. Gulf Coast Distillers mobilized their manufacturing operation to create sanitizer. Yesterday they DONATED 13,000 bottles of 32 ounce sanitizer to local first-responders, police, Fire/EMS and local Healthcare organizations. More to come… pic.twitter.com/bysak1AVk6
— Texas Whiskey Association (@TexasWhiskeyOrg) March 22, 2020
A great Texas company @MilamandGreene — innovating an on-the-fly way to help our their local community!
Small Businesses are the backbone of our economy! —
Please share any stories of local innovation so we spread the word and help those in need!https://t.co/fkGepnEes0 pic.twitter.com/543ALTaNMr
— Jim DeMint (@JimDeMint) March 21, 2020
America’s Private Sector is stepping up to help us be STRONG! Many of the Nation’s distillers, large and small, are producing and donating hand sanitizer to help fight #COVID19. THANK YOU! https://t.co/bcjKA9Janw
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 19, 2020
The easiest way to #EnjoyResponsibly this #AlcoholResponsibilityMonth and beyond is to follow the #ABCsofABVs: It's #AlcoholAwarenessMonth. #DYK: The spirits sector is one of the most heavily taxed industries. In fact, 52% of a typical spirits bottle price goes towards some kind of tax or fee. #DYK: Distillers pay TWICE as much as brewers in federal excise tax.
A-lcohol is alcohol
B-e mindful of alcohol content
C-onsume in moderation
Learn more: https://bit.ly/3JncE8u
#DYK some high-ABV beers have as much alcohol as 2 standard cocktails? #DrinkResponsibly by knowing what makes up a standard drink at http://standarddrinks.org. #ThinkStandardDrinks
Spirits producers pay more than their fair share of taxes! #DontBelieveBeer
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