The Law That Shaped Your Beer

Alabama · 8

• 1992 Alabama Brewpub Act (Act No. 92-535)LICENSING · C

  Opened a legal path for brewpubs, but required historic building/site, <=10,000 barrels/year, an 80-seat restaurant and on-premises-only sales of house beer.

• 2009 Gourmet Beer Bill (Act No. 2009-771)LICENSING · C

  Raised the legal beer ABV ceiling from 6% to 13.9% after a five-year grassroots campaign.

• 2011 Brewery Modernization Act (Act No. 2011-630)LICENSING · C

  Legalized brewery taprooms in Alabama.

• 2012 Gourmet Bottle Bill (Act No. 2012-468)LICENSING · C

  Raised permitted retail beer container size from 16 oz to 25.4 oz.

• 2013 Homebrew Legalization (Act No. 2013-204)LICENSING · C

  Legalized limited home production of beer and related fermented beverages for personal use under the statute.

• 2016 Growler Bill / direct brewery sales (Act No. 2016-97)LICENSING · C

  Allowed qualifying breweries/brewpubs to sell up to 288 oz per customer per day for off-premise consumption; removed historic-area limits on brewpub locations.

• 2021 Expanded direct-sales limits & contract-brewing clarification (Act No. 2021-454)LICENSING · C

  Increased qualifying brewery off-premise limit to 864 oz per customer per day and clarified contract-brewing / alternating-proprietorship treatment.

• 2026 Alabama Small Craft Alcoholic Beverages Act — enacted, not yet effective as of Pass 18 (HB593 / enacted Apr. 16, 2026; effective Oct. 1, 2026)EVENT_AUTHORIZATION · C

  Renames/expands the brewpub framework; creates small craft distillery, small craft winery and hybrid craft alcoholic beverage complex licensing; authorizes tours/tastings, limited public-event sales and manufacturer storage extensions under specified conditions.

Guatemala · 5

• 1729 First documented Cabildo request to produce beerOTHER · B

  Historical reporting says the first known request to the Cabildo for permission to produce beer dates to 1729.

  Does not prove: The source does not identify a proven production entity or show that production actually occurred.

• 1825 Authorization for manufacture and sale of beer and ciderEVENT_AUTHORIZATION · B

  Secondary historical sources state the government formally permitted beer/cider manufacture and sale in 1825; Guillermo Reichenberg received the first documented manufacturing license.

  Does not prove: A license or legal authorization alone does not prove that a specific licensed party actually produced beer.

• 1854 Beer licensing expansion under Rafael CarreraLICENSING · B

  Historical reporting states beer was again addressed in legislation and more sale licenses/estancos were authorized.

  Does not prove: Licenses and estancos may represent sellers rather than breweries.

• 1880 Beer-license expansionLICENSING · B

  Prensa Libre reports more than 180 beer-related licenses existed by about 1880 as production and trade expanded.

  Does not prove: The 180+ licenses must not be interpreted as 180 breweries.

• 1885 Exclusive privilege for industrial beer production using imported German technologyTIED_HOUSE · B

  Prensa Libre historical reporting states the government granted the Castillo brothers an exclusive privilege in 1885 tied to industrial beer production with imported German technology.

  Does not prove: The privilege does not erase or disprove other small/rudimentary brewers or earlier licensed producers.

Kiribati · 5

• 1999 Environment Act 1999 – prescribed developmentsLICENSING · A

  Brewing, making and distillery works are listed among prescribed food-industry developments.

• 2013 Excise Tax Act 2013EXCISE · A

  Registered manufacturers of excisable goods may manufacture and sell only from licensed premises.

• 2025 Liquor Act 2025LICENSING · A

  Official ministry page currently lists the Liquor Act 2025 and Liquor Application 2026.

• undated Manufacturing-liquor licensing responsibilityLICENSING · A

  Ministry of Internal Affairs states it is responsible for Licensing of Manufacturing Liquor and Liquor Licensing.

• undated Online Business Registry transition / re-registrationLICENSING · A

  New Online Business Registry is live; legacy business names and companies must re-register by 31 March 2027 or be removed from the register.

Northwest Territories · 4

• undated NWT Manufacturing Licence + Manufacturer's Retail Outlet LicenceLICENSING · D

  2026 public database lists NWT Brewing Company Ltd. Class ML and MROL. Licence 2026-ML-66 explicitly authorizes beer manufacture at 3905 Franklin Avenue from 2026-03-31 through 2027-03-31.

• undated Brewery Regulations R-005-93LICENSING · D

  Made 1993-02-09. Established brewery-permit application/renewal process, production/sales reporting requirements and $500 issue/renewal fees.

• undated Liquor Regulations amendment R-027-93LICENSING · D

  Made 1993-05-11. An off-premises beer licence required the applicant to have applied for or hold a brewery permit.

• undated Historical Liquor Act — brewery corporate disclosure and >10% share-transfer approvalLICENSING · C

  For corporate brewery-permit applicants the Board could require particulars of directors, officers and shareholders. For corporate permit holders, a share issue/transfer resulting in >10% beneficial voting control required Board approval before becoming final.

Yap State · 4

• undated YSC Title 30, Chapter 3 §§301, 303DISTRIBUTION · B

  Yap's code requires a license to sell alcoholic beverages and lists wholesale, retail on-sale, retail off-sale, special-event and special off-hours classes.

  Does not prove: Does not prove which license class Stone Money or Manta Ray Bay currently holds; no license-register evidence was found in this pass.

• undated YSC Title 22 Ch.1 §§101, 104, 106LICENSING · B

  Yap has a Business License Board; applications/renewals are processed through the Treasurer. This is part of the required record trail for a brewery business operating in Yap.

  Does not prove: Does not prove Stone Money's business-license holder name, license category, or current license status.

• undated YSC Title 30 Ch.2 §§207, 210LICENSING · B

  Yap's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approves/disapproves applications sent through the Treasurer, who issues an approved alcoholic-beverage license.

  Does not prove: Does not prove which person/entity holds the license for Stone Money/Manta Ray Bay or what license classes are held.

• undated 11 YSC §808LICENSING · B

  The online code provides for an annual drinking permit for persons 21+ and exempts visitors staying no more than 30 days; licensed sellers/employees are exempt while acting within duties.

  Does not prove: Does not establish current 2026 enforcement practice or whether later amendments changed the permit system.

Chuuk State · 3

• 2001 Chuuk State Law No. 6-01-16 (Act No. 6-15) §§9, 14, 17LICENSING · A

  The enacted law gives the Chuuk Alcoholic Beverage Control Board power to license manufacture, requires a license to import/manufacture/sell alcoholic beverages, and requires license records to be open to public examination. The Chuuk law index dates approval to December 4, 2001 and identifies Act No. 6-15. HB 18-34 remains listed in progress in 2026 to amend Section 3.

  Does not prove: No manufacturer licensee is established by the statute or index. HB 18-34's title alone does not reveal its effect and does not prove enactment.

• 2026 HB 18-34LICENSING · A

  The current Chuuk Legislature lists HB 18-34 as legislation in progress with the title 'To amend section 3 of Chuuk State Law No. 6-01-16,' the alcohol-control statute that also contains manufacturer-licensing provisions.

  Does not prove: The listing alone does not reveal the amendment text, its effect on alcohol regulation, whether it will pass, or whether manufacturer-licensing/public-record provisions would change.

• undated Chuuk Code Title 29 §1009-1010EXCISE · B

  Chuuk imposes a beer/malt-beverage possession tax and provides that tax is due within five days after bottling or importation.

  Does not prove: The reference to bottling does not prove local brewing or bottling occurred.

Dominica · 3

• 2007 Fiscal Incentives Act concession — 2007LICENSING · C

  Cabinet Decision No. 729 granted 15-year import-duty exemption on machinery/equipment/spares, 15-year income-tax exemption on profits, and withholding-tax waiver on foreign-loan interest.

• 2015 Fiscal Incentives Act concession — raw/packaging materialsLICENSING · C

  DBBL received a 10-year exemption from import duty on raw and packaging materials.

• 2015 Fiscal Incentives Act concession — laboratory/cleaning suppliesLICENSING · C

  DBBL received a five-year import-duty exemption on laboratory equipment and cleaning supplies.

Kosrae State · 3

• 2023 KSC §13.517(7); L.B. 13-30 (2023)LICENSING · A

  Kosrae Bill 13-30 was signed into law in 2023 and reproduces §13.517 while retaining subsection (7), 'Manufacturing an alcoholic drink in the State.' Current 2026 official legislature indexing did not surface a later amendment to that subsection.

  Does not prove: Negative indexed searching does not prove no later law exists; authoritative 2026 continuity still requires a Chief Clerk/records-office check.

• 2023 L.B. No. 13-30 / enacted August 25, 2023PROHIBITION · A

  The act amended §13.517(1) for Good Friday while reproducing the full section and retaining subsection (7), providing a modern enacted-text checkpoint for the manufacturing prohibition.

  Does not prove: Does not itself establish that subsection (7) remained untouched after August 2023.

• undated State Law No. 11-121 / L.B. No. 11-54PROHIBITION · A

  The official 11th Legislature state-law index records S.L. 11-121 as amending Title 12 and §§13.516 and 13.517 to establish a drinking-permit requirement and related penalties, documenting the evolution of the same section that still contained the manufacturing prohibition in later enacted text.

  Does not prove: The index entry does not by itself establish the exact wording of every subsection after amendment or the enactment date.

Municipality of Esquel · 3

• 2025 Hecho en Esquel local-production frameworkOTHER · A

  Includes locally made craft beer within the artisanal food-and-beverage category eligible for the local-production seal.

  Does not prove: Does not prove any specific producer holds the seal or currently brews.

• 2025 Small-scale food production establishment regulationLABELLING · A

  Requires habilitation and labeling for small-scale local production establishments and regulates commercialization inside Esquel.

  Does not prove: The regulation itself does not identify brewery operators.

• 2025 Resolución 1129/2025 – Construyendo Identidad alcohol authorizationEVENT_AUTHORIZATION · A

  Explicitly authorizes possession, exhibition and sale of alcoholic beverages from master brewers and locally produced artisan beverages at a municipal event.

  Does not prove: Does not identify which breweries participated and does not prove production by any named directory candidate.

New Brunswick · 3

• undated New Brunswick Brewer's LicenceLICENSING · C

  A brewer's licence is required to manufacture beer commercially in New Brunswick; federal licensing is also required.

• undated Regulation 2026-14 — removal of former in-house brewery licence referencesLICENSING · C

  Regulation 2026-14 removes references to the former in-house brewery licence category effective 1-Apr-2026.

• undated Beneficial Ownership Register / individuals with significant controlOTHER · D

  NB corporations must internally maintain a register of individuals with significant control; 25%+ voting-share control is a threshold, but general public access is restricted.

Alberta · 2

• undated AGLC Class E manufacturer licenceLICENSING · D

  AGLC says all Alberta liquor manufacturers need Class E; a brewer must have a permanent facility and cannot begin production until after final inspection/licensing.

• undated AGLC contract manufacturing rulesLICENSING · D

  AGLC distinguishes manufacturer-to-manufacturer and manufacturer-to-agency contract production and states an agency owns the product in agency arrangements.

Barbados · 2

• 1950 Brewery Act, Cap. 326LICENSING · A

  Official Attorney General index lists Brewery Act 1950-18, Cap. 326, as repealed by Act 2015-32. Historical text remains valuable for archival licensing research.

• 2015 Excise Tax Act, 2015-32EXCISE · A

  Barbados Revenue Authority says the Act applies to beer and requires excise licensing, electronic registration, monthly returns, recordkeeping and compliance.

Federated States of Micronesia · 2

• 1990 C.B. 6-296EXCISE · A

  Official congressional reporting says the bill would increase import taxes on beer and malt beverages upon establishment of a domestic brewery capable of producing beer reasonably available to the public.

  Does not prove: Does not prove the bill became law and does not prove a domestic brewery was established.

• 2005 Public Law No. 13-60 / Title 54 §221EXCISE · A

  Public Law 13-60 set the national import duty for beer and malt beverages at $0.25 per 12 fluid ounces, documenting the later statutory tax regime after the 1990 domestic-brewery-linked proposal.

  Does not prove: Does not prove the legislative disposition of C.B. 6-296 and should not be used to infer that the earlier bill passed or failed.

Fiji · 2

• 1957 Fiji Liquor Ordinance beer-access reformLICENSING · B

  Government proposal to relax race-based restrictions on purchasing/drinking beer, with implementation anticipated in 1958.

  Does not prove: Alcohol-law reform is context, not brewery-production proof. Exact enacted text/effective date should be checked against the primary ordinance if legal precision is required.

• 1958 Beer without liquor permits for Fijian and Indian menLICENSING · A

  On 3 February 1958, Fijian and Indian males over 18 were reported drinking beer in Suva hotels without the former permit requirement.

  Does not prove: This contemporaneous report establishes implementation in practice; it does not substitute for the exact statutory amendment text or gazette citation.

Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony · 2

• 1916 Liquor Ordinance 1916 (No. 8 of 1916)LICENSING · A

  Official New Zealand legislation schedule identifies the Liquor Ordinance 1916, No. 8 of 1916, as a Gilbert and Ellice Islands ordinance.

• 1964 New liquor legislation effective January 1964OTHER · A

  A January 1965 contemporary report says new liquor legislation came into force in January 1964 and reports changes in liquor-offence patterns.

Massachusetts · 2

• undated M.G.L. c. 138, § 19CLICENSING · A

  State license permits malt beverage production and specified retail/wholesale sales.

• undated M.G.L. c. 138, § 19DLICENSING · A

  State license authorizes malt beverage production and on-premise retail; separate Section 12 license required for serving.

Palau District, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands · 2

• 1950 Palau District Order No. 1-50PROHIBITION · A
• 1956 Palau District Order No. 7-56OTHER · A

Red River Settlement / Council of Assiniboia · 2

• undated Council of Assiniboia beer-sale restriction (13 June 1836)LICENSING · C

  Council minutes prohibited sale or traffic of beer to Indigenous people and imposed a twenty-shilling penalty.

• undated Council of Assiniboia brewing/licensing framework (1860s)LICENSING · C

  MHS describes licensing requirements, eight-gallon home-use limit, restrictions on sale hours/premises and racially discriminatory alcohol rules.

Republic of Palau · 2

• 2021 Executive Order 451DISTRIBUTION · A
• undated Palau National Code Title 40 §1002LICENSING · A

Republic of the Marshall Islands · 2

• 1994 Alcohol Restriction Act 1994LICENSING · A

  Context

• undated Alcoholic Beverage Control Act 1971LICENSING · A

  Direct

San Marino · 2

• 1871 Decree requiring manufacturing permissionOTHER · A

  A 1912 legal consultation states the decree required Consiglio Principe permission for manufacture of beer, pasta, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and spirits.

• 2010 Law No. 129 — public business license registerLICENSING · A

  Article 40 requires the Ufficio Industria, Artigianato e Commercio to maintain a public license register containing license holder, C.o.E., statistical code, activity seat, authorized activity, issue date, status and trade name.

San Marino / Italy · 2

• 1897 Italy–San Marino convention, Article 37EXCISE · A

  The legal opinion reports that San Marino undertook to prevent production of goods subject to Italian internal manufacturing taxes from exceeding domestic needs and permitted export beyond Italy; this created a regulatory framework relevant to beer manufacturing.

• 1907 Additional convention, Articles 5–6EXCISE · A

  The legal opinion states that the revenue-sharing calculation explicitly included manufacturing taxes on beer and that San Marino had to notify Italy if factories producing taxed goods were established in the Republic.

Sweden · 2

• 2025 Farm/direct producer alcohol salesOTHER · A

  Direct producer sales allowed under municipal permit and paid visitor-arrangement conditions.

• 2025 Reduced beer excise for independent small breweriesEXCISE · A

  Qualifying breweries up to 3 million L/year can receive reduced excise under independence and other criteria.

Vanuatu · 2

• undated Liquor Licensing Act [CAP. 52]LICENSING · A

  Government-hosted consolidated act provides the statutory liquor-licensing framework.

• undated Business Licence Act [CAP. 249] / business licensing procedureLICENSING · A

  Current Customs and Inland Revenue guidance identifies breweries as a specially documented business activity.

Alaska statewide · 1

• 2022 Title 4 Rewrite enactedOTHER · C

  AMCO says law was modernized to create clearer, consistent framework for alcoholic beverage licensing/regulation.

Belize · 1

• 1971 Brewery Act, Chapter 286EXCISE · A

  Defines and regulates breweries and beer under Belize law; provides the statutory context for brewery licences, excise controls and production regulation.

Canada · 1

• undated NAICS Canada 2022 — 312120 BreweriesOTHER · D

  Defines breweries as establishments primarily engaged in brewing beer, ale, malt liquors and non-alcoholic beer; excludes purchased malt-beverage bottling and malt manufacturing.

El Salvador · 1

• 2019 Ley Reguladora de la Producción y Comercialización del Alcohol y de las Bebidas AlcohólicasEXCISE · A

  Regulates operation, sanitary registrations, quality controls, taxes and consumer guarantees for beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Guatemala City · 1

• 1856 Decree authorizing beer sales in beer businessesOTHER · B

  USAC research states a decree of October 3, 1856 authorized beer sales in beer businesses after the Bertholin business opened.

  Does not prove: Legal authorization does not prove all licensed businesses brewed on site.

Inuvik, Northwest Territories · 1

• undated Town of Inuvik Brewery and Distillery zoning useZONING · C

  2025 zoning update defines a Brewery and Distillery use and requires brewery/distillery development applications to document water needs/source.

Italy · 1

• 2016 Legge 28 luglio 2016, n. 154 — Art. 35OTHER · A

Japan / South Seas mandate · 1

• 1939 Imperial Decree No. 789 — 米穀搗精等制限令OTHER · A

Koror · 1

• 1961 Municipal Ordinance No. 20-61LICENSING · A

Koror State · 1

• 1997 KSPL No. K5-78-97OTHER · A

Palau Branch / South Seas Government · 1

• 1939 Palau Branch beer price-control notices (1939–1941; notices referenced/updated in official gazette)OTHER · B

Palau Congress · 1

• 1955 Palau Congress Resolution No. 10-55DISTRIBUTION · A

Palau Liquor Control Board · 1

• 1958 Liquor Control Board Regulation No. 3LICENSING · A

South Seas Government · 1

• 1939 South Seas Government Ordinance No. 68 — 米穀搗精等制限規則LICENSING · B

Trust Territory / Marshall Islands District · 1

• undated Marshall Islands District beer import/sales controlsEXCISE · A

  Direct