E-Malt.com News article: USA, SC: South Carolina allows breweries to serve food and their beer in the same establishment

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has signed a bill that allows local breweries to serve both food and the alcohol they produce in the same establishment, a change supporters say will help them expand their business and hire more employees, Savannahnow.com reported on August 15.

“South Carolina is leaps and bounds ahead of where we were just a few short years ago when it comes to freedom for beer brewers,” said Joseph Ackerman, president of Conquest Brewing Co., in a news release.

“I am happy to see how quickly we have progressed since 2007, and the latest brewery law is another great step in decreasing regulation so that we can continue our passion and industry, brewing beer for people to enjoy.”

The bill, H. 3512, was initially dubbed the Stone Bill, because of its intention to attract California-based Stone Brewing Co. to South Carolina. The business eventually decided not to come to the state. But brewing advocates still welcomed the changes in state law.

“The craft beer industry is booming in neighboring states, and there’s no reason we can’t have that same economic growth right here,” said Rep. Derham Cole, a key player in the legislation.

The new law the latest step toward loosening restrictions on breweries.

Last year South Carolina passed the “Pint Bill,” which granted breweries the ability to serve as much as 48 ounces of beer to customers consuming it on the premises. The change increased the amount from the previous limit of four, 4-ounce samples.

Georgia does not allow breweries to sell pints for on-site consumption, nor retail sales of beer for off-premise consumption, according to Nancy Palmer, executive director of the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild. Tours and tastings of free samples are allowed in Georgia.


15 August, 2014