This week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed groundbreaking legislation, S.2852A/A.3132A, permitting producers of spirits, cider, and mead to ship directly to New York consumers. This new law significantly enhances market opportunities for the state’s burgeoning craft beverage industry, enabling producers to deliver their unique products straight to customers both within New York and across state borders.
New York State has the greatest number of cideries throughout the country and is home to the second greatest number of distilleries. The passage of this legislation is truly a long time coming for craft producers who have been eager for the state to pass direct shipping laws for several years.
The new direct shipping law will apply to intrastate and interstate shipping of spirits, cider, and mead. However, there is a reciprocity provision that will extend to interstate shipments. In other words, an out-of-state producer (i.e., a distillery, cidery, or meadery in another state) will need to ensure that its home state allows New York state producers to ship spirits, cider, or mead directly to consumers before the out-of-state producer can ship to New York consumers.
For more information on wine or alcohol law, please contact Lindsey Zahn.
DISCLAIMER: This blog post is for general information purposes only, is not intended to constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship results. Please consult your own attorney for legal advice