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Mayor Bowser Introduces Legislation to Support Local Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries

Monday, May 6, 2019

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she is introducing the Manufacturer and Pub Permit Parity Amendment Act of 2019, legislation that will make it easier for DC-based businesses that manufacture wine, beer, and spirits to collaborate with other local alcohol manufacturers, sell their products in DC, stay competitive regionally, and expand.

“As Washingtonians, we love to buy and sell products that are made in DC,” said Mayor Bowser. “This legislation is going to make it easier for residents to purchase locally made products and also make it more convenient and affordable to do business in DC.”

The proposed bill would amend Title 25 of the DC Code to:

  • Allow holders of wine pub and distillery pub permits to ship products directly to District residents (breweries are already permitted to do so)
  • Allow pub permit holders to manufacture alcoholic beverages off site if the production facility is within 600 feet of the license (currently production facilities must be adjacent to the licensed establishment)
  • Allow breweries that manufacture alcoholic beverages with other breweries (e.g. collaboration beverages) to deliver those products for off-premises consumption in crowlers
  • Increase the permitted alcohol by volume percentage for wine manufactured in DC from 15 percent to 21 percent, bringing the District’s policies more in line with other jurisdictions, including Virginia

The legislation also addresses a gray area and provides clarity by exempting District residents who make beer or wine in their homes from licensure requirements as long as the manufactured product is for personal use and not for resale.