7th Circuit Upholds Indiana Law Restricting Different Types of Wholesaler Licenses

The 7th Circuit rejected an Equal Protection claim by a beer wholesaler prohibited from seeking a liquor wholesaler permit. In an opinion by Circuit Judge Sykes the 7th Circuit upheld the district court decision to reject the plaintiff’s claim. The court first noted, “We are again asked to decide whether an aspect of Indiana’s alcohol regulation system violates the Equal…Read More

En Banc Panel Upholds California Tied House Law Against First Amendment Challenge

In a 10-1 decision, an en banc panel of the 9th Circuit overruled a previous three judge decision of the Ninth Circuit and reinstated a district court decision that upheld a California alcohol law regulating the payment between suppliers/wholesalers and retailers. In the opinion authored by Judge Paez the opinion noted that the Supreme Court’s Central Hudson…Read More

Idaho Court Rules Against Effort to Restrict 10 Barrel Brewpub in Idaho

A state district court ruled against the distributor challenge to the Idaho State Police’s interpretation of Idaho’s small brewer definition.  The Court noted the confusing language in the sections of Idaho code but concluded, “Whatever the legislature intended, it did not preclude an international giant in the industry from buying out the local competition of brewers…Read More

Ninth Annual Law and Policy Conference to be Held in Dallas on August 29-30

The Ninth Annual Alcohol Law and Policy Conference is taking place August 29 and 30 in Dallas, Texas.  The conference starts with an opening night reception on Sunday, August 28.  The conference will take place all day Monday, the 29th and ends around noon on Tuesday, the 30th. This annual conference brings together a wide range of…Read More

Is It Time for a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol?

There is a certain appeal to the sound-bite of the pro marijuana legalization forces when they claim they want to “regulate marijuana like alcohol,” but the devil is always in the details. The conversation about regulating marijuana like alcohol is incomplete without mentioning the unique constitutional nature of alcohol regulation. A previous post suggested that…Read More