Posted in Headlines

“Stone Bill” Now Law in South Carolina

South Carolina’s Governor Nikki Haley signed the “Stone Bill” into law last night, paving the way for small craft brewery businesses to grow.

The new law allows for:

  • In a compromise, breweries can sell food onsite. If they do serve food, there is no consumption cap. (Currently 48 ounces.)
  • Breweries can obtain retailers permit, to sell bottles/cans (of others) on site.
  • Brewpubs can sell/distribute to wholesalers after converting license. (Would lose liquor license)

Despite strong opposition from both Anheuser-Busch’s legal team and the Wholesaler’s Association, the bill is now law.

The change opens the door for Stone Brewing Co. and other breweries like Deschutes Brewing in Bend, Oregon to potentially build in South Carolina. Both breweries are looking for locations that allow bottle sales, restaurants, and pint consumption on premise.

This is a huge win for South Carolina Brewer’s Association, Brook Bristow (General Counsel & craft beer advocate) and craft beer in Palmetto State.

A huge congratulations from Beer Street Journal on your efforts to update antiquated beer laws, and positively changing the beer industry in the southeast.

Update: Removed bottle & can legality mention. That would have applied to brewpubs before the compromise.