Press Releases

STEPUP Foundation Announces Inaugural Interns, Mentors and Distilleries

“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...

Continue reading

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...

Continue reading

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...

Continue reading

ACSA INTRODUCES “STEPUP” FOUNDATION TO FOSTER & PROMOTE DIVERSITY IN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SECTOR

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...

Continue reading

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...

Continue reading

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....

Continue reading

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...

Continue reading

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...

Continue reading

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...

Continue reading

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)...

Continue reading

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...

Continue reading

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...

Continue reading

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)...

Continue reading

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,...

Continue reading

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...

Continue reading

©2025 American Craft Spirits Association; All Rights Reserved. Member Owned, Industry Driven.

Log in with your credentials

Forgot your details?