News Archive
Distilled Spirits Council Working With Congress to Ease Tax Hurdles Hampering Efforts to Produce Hand Sanitizer to Combat COVID-19
-Without Congressional Action Distillers Must Pay Full Federal Excise Tax if Undenatured Alcohol Used- WASHINGTON —The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States is working with Congress and the Trump Administration to ease tax regulations that could force distillers producing desperately needed hand sanitizer to pay federal excise taxes on the alcohol used. The Tax […]
Read MoreDISCUS President & CEO Chris Swonger issued the following statement on COVID-19:
As bars and restaurants across the country close to stop the spread of COVID-19, our primary concerns are ensuring the safety of patrons and hospitality industry employees, and supporting hospitality workers, bars and restaurants during this very difficult time. We are working closely with regulators at the federal and state level to develop plans that […]
Read MoreWest Virginia Bill to Allow Statewide Sale of Distilled Spirits Heads to Governor’s Desk for Signature
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) applauded the West Virginia legislature for passing a measure to allow the sale of distilled spirits across the state. The bill, HB 4524, reverses the current Prohibition-era structure of state laws by requiring localities to opt-out of selling spirits rather than forcing dry counties to opt-in. […]
Read MoreOklahoma Increases Consumer Convenience by Expanding Spirits Sales on Sundays
These are the first elections since passage of bill giving localities the option to decide on Sunday sales On March 3, seven counties in Oklahoma overwhelmingly approved the sale of distilled spirits on Sundays, expanding access and consumer convenience in the state. SB 211, a bill supported by the Distilled Spirits Council of the […]
Read MoreOklahoma Expands Sunday Sales of Spirits — Texas Remains One of Only Seven States to Keep Ban
On March 3, voters in seven Oklahoma counties overwhelmingly approved the sale of distilled spirits on Sundays, expanding access and consumer convenience in the state. Texas, however, remains one of only seven states that still bans the retail sale of spirits on Sundays. “Texans are now surrounded by states like Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and […]
Read MoreDistilled Spirits Council Issues Updated Fire Protection Manual
— Marks First Major Revision in 15 Years — WASHINGTON — The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) today issued the fourth edition of the “Recommended Fire Protection Practices for Distilled Spirits Beverage Facilities” manual. The voluntary guide is a valuable reference tool for those in the distilled spirits industry, including engineers and architects, […]
Read MoreDistilled Spirits Council Honors Spirits Industry Icons at Inaugural Conference Awards Dinner
LOUISVILLE, Ky.– More than 350 spirits industry professionals joined the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) in honoring industry leaders at an awards dinner at the DISCUS inaugural conference in Louisville, Ky. The event, emceed by Fred Minnick, Wall Street Journal-bestselling author, bourbon curator and taster, took place on Tuesday evening at the […]
Read MoreDistilled Spirits Council of the United States Statement in Response to U.S. Announcement to Maintain Retaliatory Tariffs on EU Distilled Spirits Products
The distilled spirits industry on both sides of the Atlantic has suffered enough. We urge the Administration and our EU trading partners to de-escalate this trade dispute by simultaneously removing the U.S. tariffs on EU beverage alcohol products and the EU’s tariff on American Whiskey. Since October 18, 2019, the U.S. has imposed a 25% […]
Read MoreDistilled Spirits Council Economic Report: Tariffs Cause Rough Seas on Both Sides of the Atlantic, Strong U.S. Spirits Market in Jeopardy
The devastating impact of the retaliatory tariffs on distilled spirits products is accelerating, threatening to upend the decade of growth in the U.S. spirits sector, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) reported today at its annual economic briefing for media and analysts. “While it was another strong year for U.S. spirits sales, […]
Read MoreSpirits United Continues to Gain Momentum
17,000 advocates and multiple partner organizations join spirits industry’s grassroots platform WASHINGTON – More than 17,000 supporters and 10 industry groups have joined Spirits United , the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States’ (DISCUS) grassroots platform designed to mobilize the spirits industry and its consumers on key policy issues. “We kicked-off Spirits United in August, and […]
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