“STEPUP” FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL INTERNS, MENTORS, PARTICIPATING DISTILLERIES & NEW DONOR PARTNERS Following two years of planning, the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and The Spirits Training Entrepreneurship Program for Underrepresented Professionals (STEPUP Foundation) are proud to announce their 2022 Inaugural Class of interns, mentors, and participating distilleries. Recipients...
Press Releases
INTRODUCING GOOD DEEDS SPIRITS AND ITS INAUGURAL RELEASE, GOOD DEEDS MALT WHISKEY

Craft Distillers and Friends Collaborate on Malt Whiskey Blend, With 100% of Proceeds to Benefit ACSA’S STEPUP October 5, 2021 (BUTTE, MT) — Good Deeds Spirits is proud to announce its first-ever release, GOOD DEEDS MALT WHISKEY, a malt whiskey blend from 9 leading craft whiskey producers. This 1,000...
American Craft Spirits Association Announces 2021 Heartland Whiskey Competition Medalists
CHICAGO, IL (September 8, 2021) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) today announced the medalists of the 2021 Heartland Whiskey Competition, which was open to craft whiskeys from all 50 states that incorporate corn in their mash bill (the mix of grains used to make whiskey). In this...
ACSA INTRODUCES “STEPUP” FOUNDATION TO FOSTER & PROMOTE DIVERSITY IN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SECTOR

Key Industry Leadership Tapped to Steer 501(c)(3) Internship Initiative in Effort to Create a More Inclusive Industry, With Significant Financial Commitments Already Pledged Washington, DC (August 31, 2021) – After more than 18 months of planning, the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) is proud to launch the Spirits Training...
American Craft Spirits Association Announces 2021 Craft Spirits Medalists
Recipients Selected from a Pool of Approximately 550 Entrants Across 42 States Washington, DC (August 24, 2021) – Tonight, the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), the nation’s only national registered non-profit trade association representing the U.S. craft spirits industry, announced the winners of its 8th Annual Judging of Craft...
As Major Tariff Hike Nears, Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition Sends Letter to Biden Administration Urging Immediate Removal of all EU, UK and U.S. Tariffs on Spirits and Wines
Letter Marks 50 Days from EU’s Doubling of the American Whiskey Tariff to 50 Percent WASHINGTON – The Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition, 48 associations representing the entire three-tier chain of the U.S. alcohol industry, sent a letter today to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Tai, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and U.S....
New Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition Unites 47 U.S. Associations in the Hospitality Sector to Call for Immediate Removal of Retaliatory Tariffs on Spirits and Wine
WASHINGTON – Forty-seven U.S. associations representing all tiers of the beverage alcohol industry are marking National Agriculture Day with the launch of the Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition to advocate for the permanent removal of all EU, UK and U.S. tariffs on beverage alcohol products in connection to the steel and aluminum and WTO...
72 U.S. and EU Associations Send Joint Letter to U.S. President Biden and EU President von der Leyen Calling for Immediate Suspension of Retaliatory Tariffs
Lifting Tariffs Will Ease Economic Burden & Help Reset Trans-Atlantic Trading Relationship WASHINGTON – Seventy-two U.S. and European associations representing a wide range of industries sent a letter today to President Joseph R. Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging the immediate suspension of tariffs on sectors unrelated to...
Dept. of Health & Human Services Withdrawing FDA Sanitizer Fees on Craft Distilleries

ACSA is pleased to report that on the heels of Association discussions with HHS Chief of Staff Brian Harrison and senior HHS leadership, together with an intensive outreach campaign over the past 48 hours to congressional legislators and members of the media, HHS has withdrawn the FDA’s scheduled $14,060...
DEVELOPING STORY: ACSA Pushes Back on Surprise FDA Fees for Sanitizer Production

FDA has published and notified registrants of facility fees for the Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Program. Distilleries throughout the US have received these notices, as any distillery who produced hand sanitizer under the Temporary Policy for Preparation of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency (COVID-19)...
American Craft Spirits Association Toasts to Long-Term Federal Excise Tax Reform

Nearly a Decade in the Making, Craft Distillers Earn Permanent Tax Parity December 27, 2020 (Washington, D.C.) – Following approvals in the U.S. House and Senate, tonight the President signed the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA) as part of an omnibus and stimulus package, giving the country’s...
Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act Passes in U.S. House of Representatives, Goes Before Senate, President

December 21, 2020 (Washington, D.C.) – Following approval in the U.S. House of Representatives tonight by a vote of 359/53, the Senate is now expected to vote on and pass the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA) later tonight or early tomorrow. The President will then sign...
CEOs of Major Beverage Alcohol Associations Send Letter to Congress Urging Immediate Passage of Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act

– Struggling Craft Producers Face Significant Tax Hike if Congress Fails to Act by Year-End – WASHINGTON – Chief executive officers from eight major beverage alcohol associations sent a letter to Congressional leaders today urging immediate passage of the bipartisan Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, S. 362/H.R. 1175 (CBMTRA)...
A STATEMENT FROM ACSA CEO MARGIE A.S. LEHRMAN & PRESIDENT BECKY HARRIS ON FEDERAL EXCISE TAX (FET) RELIEF

Washington, D.C. (December 1, 2020) — The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) applauds Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), who sent an urgent letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer today urging the passage of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA,...
LAST CALL: December 1 Day of Action

November 30, 2020 LAST CALL: December 1 Day of Action Planned to Urge Congressional Passage of Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act Before Year-End Deadline WASHINGTON – Leaders in the beverage alcohol sector are urging industry advocates across the nation to participate in a national Day of Action on December 1...
Recent Articles
- ACSA Announces 2025 Craft Spirits Competition & Packaging Award Medalists
- Fifth Annual Craft Spirits Packaging Awards
- Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition Statement on U.S. Tariffs Imposed on Canada and Mexico
- Statement on Tariffs from Margie A.S Lehrman, CEO, ACSA
- STEPUP Foundation Kicks Off Fourth Round of Immersive Internship Program