While liquor sales have spiked since the coronavirus hit Maine, craft breweries, which rely heavily on taproom sales, are struggling.
liquor
Posted inBusiness
N.H. liquor stores offer Maine residents an 11% discount
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – To highlight New Hampshire’s tax-free status and to thank out-of-state customers who make up more than half of its annual sales, the state liquor commission is offering them discounts at its liquor and wine outlet stores. The “No Taxation on Our Libations” sale is providing customers from Massachusetts a 13 percent […]
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Posted inFranklin
Three Jay teenagers face civil violations in underage drinking case
JAY — Three local boys accused of underage drinking have each been charged with a civil violation of illegal possession of liquor by a minor, Police Chief Richard Caton IV said. Jay police, assisted by Wilton and Livermore Falls officers, responded early Thursday to a report of an underage drinking party on Macomber Hill Road. […]
Posted inMaine
How to make cocktails out of Allen’s Coffee Brandy and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky
They may be Maine best-sellers, but you’re not likely to see Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy or Fireball Cinnamon Whisky show up on the menus of many (any?) of Portland’s coolest cocktail bars. Such places pride themselves on fresh-squeezed juices; backyard and foraged ingredients; hand-crafted, top-shelf spirits and bitters; and custom ice cubes. We’re pretty sure […]
Posted inBusiness, Lewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Sazerac announces $1 million expansion at Lewiston plant
LEWISTON — Saturday was “a great day for Lewiston,” U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin said, following the announcement by Sazerac Co. of a $1 million expansion at the Boston Brands of Maine bottling facility. The company’s expansion will increase capacity at its Saratoga Street plant within its present building. It does not involve additional construction on […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
State increases prices of low-end liquor despite protest
AUGUSTA — Brushing aside pleas for delay, the State Liquor & Lottery Commission voted 3-2 Tuesday to press ahead with plans to hike the price of 770 low-end liquors this fall. Hardest hit in terms of percent are the cheapest 50-milliliter bottles of spirits known as nips, which will see their price tags go up […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
State pulls back on many price hikes for ‘value’ liquor brands
AUGUSTA — The state is scaling back its proposal to hike the prices of many low-end “value” spirits. Gregg Mineo, the executive director of the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, said Thursday that after hearing from companies in the liquor business, he agreed to cap the increase to any particular product so that […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
'Nipping' the nips business
Recently, the governor, the Legislature and the commissioner of the bureau dealing with alcohol clashed in regard to the sale of “nips.” The governor and commissioner chose to remove the popular item from Maine’s list of liquor items for sale. I believe the request was because the Legislature went against the governor’s request to not […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Liquor panel rejects ban on 'nips'
AUGUSTA — Citing the need to protect jobs and consumer choice, the Maine Liquor and Lottery Commission on Tuesday rejected Gov. Paul LePage’s bid to impose a ban on the sale of tiny liquor bottles known as “nips.” By a 4-1 vote, the panel declined to go along with a recommendation to “de-list” the 50-milliliter […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
State liquor regulators stand by call for 'nips' ban
AUGUSTA — The Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations is standing its ground in favor of a ban on the sale of small liquor bottles known as nips. In response to testimony submitted by opponents of the proposal, the bureau said none of the critics disputed the 50-milliliter bottles are “contributing to illegal drinking […]