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Georgia committee hears divided testimony on brewery self‑distribution bill
Summary
A Senate committee heard competing testimony on Senate Bill 456, which would limit small breweries to 3 cases per person per day and cap county sales at 500 barrels; brewers said it helps small businesses, while wholesalers and public‑health experts warned of retail displacement and increased alcohol‑related harms.
Senate members heard more than an hour of testimony for and against Senate Bill 456 on expanded direct‑to‑consumer beer sales, with supporters saying the bill helps small breweries grow and opponents warning of public‑health and market‑allocation risks.
The bill sponsor told the Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee the substitute (LC560599s) drops earlier language and narrows the proposal: it would cap off‑premise sales to roughly three cases per person per day and reduce a county sales limit from 1,000 barrels to 500. "We reduced this down to 3 cases a day and from 1000 to 500," the sponsor said while asking for the committee’s favorable consideration.
Small brewers testified in support. "This bill would mean a lot for…
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