Nebraska lawmakers debated and advanced a bill on Tuesday aimed at helping small businesses in the craft brewing and distilling industry.
LB 113 would allow small breweries and distilleries to sell their products directly to grocery stores, liquor stores, and bars without needing a distributor. The goal is to help these businesses expand their reach, open more taprooms, and sell more beer and spirits without the added cost of a middleman.
“The impact, especially for smaller brewers and distillers, is that they are able to take out the expense of using a distributor if they can self-distribute a quantity that makes sense,” said Josh Christensen of the Nebraska Craft Brewery Board. “If it fits their business model to open more taproom locations, they’re not as restricted.”
Some lawmakers raised concerns about changing a law that was updated just a few years ago. However, others argued the previous bill was too conservative and didn’t go far enough to support small businesses.
