News Archive
DISCUS Issues Urgent “Call to Action” as U.S. Tariff Comment Deadline Nears
Grassroots effort has already garnered more than 2,000 comments The Distilled Spirits of the United States (DISCUS) today issued an industry-wide call to action as the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) public input period on proposed new tariffs on spirits from the European Union (EU) comes to a close this Sunday. More than 2,000 comments […]
Read MoreMassachusetts Governor Signs Cocktails To-Go Legislation
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a measure today allowing restaurants to sell cocktails to-go with the purchase of food until February 2021 or until the state of emergency is lifted, whichever is later. “With the governor’s signature, Massachusetts now joins 30 other states and D.C. in allowing cocktails to-go to support hospitality businesses,” said Jay […]
Read MoreMassachusetts Legislature Approves Cocktails To-Go Legislation, Bill Moves to Governor’s Desk for Signature
The Massachusetts Legislature approved a measure last night allowing restaurants to sell cocktails to-go with the purchase of food until February 2021 or until the state of emergency is lifted, whichever is later. “Cocktails to-go are a vital economic lifeline for hospitality businesses struggling to cope with the harsh economic impacts of COVID-19,” said Jay […]
Read MoreClarkson Hine and Matt Deegan Elected Chair and Vice Chair of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) at its summer Board of Directors meeting elected Clarkson Hine, Beam Suntory Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, as chair of the national trade association. Hine succeeds former Diageo North America President Deirdre Mahlan, who has chaired the Council since 2018. Hine began his career in […]
Read MoreColorado Governor Signs Bill Extending Alcohol To-Go into Law
Governor Jared Polis today signed a measure extending alcohol and cocktails to-go for local distilleries, restaurants and bars in Colorado until July 1, 2021, in an effort to support the state’s struggling hospitality industry during COVID-19. “Colorado restaurants and taverns have been incredibly hard-hit by COVID,” said Senator Jeff Bridges. “Our bill gives these small […]
Read MoreMassachusetts Senate Passes Cocktails To-Go Legislation, Bill Moves to House for Approval
Statement by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States “The closure of bars, restaurants and taverns across Massachusetts has been devastating for business owners, their employees and local economies,” said Jay Hibbard, Distilled Spirits Council Vice President of State Government Relations. “The path to recovery for the hospitality industry will last long beyond the […]
Read MoreMichigan Governor Signs Cocktails To-Go Bill into Law
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) today signed HB 5811 into law allowing restaurants and bars to sell cocktails to-go in sealed containers. “Cocktails to-go have been a crucial economic lifeline for hospitality businesses across the nation hit hard by the pandemic,” said David Wojnar, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Vice President of State […]
Read MoreFrom Glass to Grill – It’s Bourbon & BBQ This Fourth of July
Congregating for fireworks or parades may be out this Fourth of July, but across the country adult consumers will be firing up their grills and raising a glass to our nation’s independence with American Whiskey, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). DISCUS reports that in 2019, more than 26 million 9-liter […]
Read More13 Companies Join Distilled Spirits Council of the United States’ Partner Member Program in First Half of 2020
WASHINGTON — The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the leading voice and advocate for the U.S. spirits industry, today announced 13 companies have joined the organization as Partner Members in the first half of 2020, bringing the total number of partner member companies to 30 since the program was established summer 2019. […]
Read MoreIowa Governor Makes Cocktails To-Go Measure Permanent
First state to make the temporary measure in response to COVID-19 permanent Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds today signed legislation, HF 2540, making cocktails to-go permanent. This marks the first state in the nation to make permanent the temporary economic relief measure put in place in response to COVID-19. “Iowa’s hospitality businesses have suffered greatly due […]
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