The 2026 Craft Spirits Data Project (CSDP), released by the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and Park Street, provides hard data on what many of our members have experienced firsthand: 2025 was another challenging year for craft distillers across the U.S. The craft spirits category declined for the third...
Distiller Count, Jobs & Investment Also Fall as Market Access Headwinds Continue Washington, D.C. (October 6, 2026) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and Park Street today presented highlights from the 2026 Craft Spirits Data Project (CSDP) at its Annual Craft Spirits Economic Briefing. Tom Bard (President, ACSA...
Bipartisan legislation would provide targeted tax relief for U.S. agricultural sourcing Washington, D.C. (June 29, 2026) — The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) applauds the introduction of the Supporting Producers Through Incentives from Rural Ingredients and Tax Relief Act (SPIRIT Act), H.R. 9407, bipartisan legislation led by Congressional Craft...
Five years in, the STEPUP program looks different from how it began, and that’s a good thing.
Washington, DC (April 30, 2026) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) unveils the Certified Craft Seal, a TTB-approved certification mark designed to give consumers a clear, reliable way to identify spirits produced by independent U.S. craft distilleries. The Certified Craft seal is the result of more than two years...
Washington, DC (April 22, 2026) – The Spirits Training Entrepreneurship Program for Underrepresented Professionals (STEPUP) today announced the appointment of Sydney Jones, Supervisor and Lead Distillery Technician, Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, to its Board of Directors. Founded in 2020 as part of an effort led by the American Craft...
Sacramento, Calif. (April 18, 2026) – Today, the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), the nation’s only nationally registered nonprofit trade association representing the U.S. craft spirits industry, announced the medalists in its 12th Annual American Craft Spirits Competition and Sixth Annual Craft Spirits Packaging Awards. Medalists were honored in...
Washington, D.C. (March 25, 2026) — Following over a decade of leadership at the helm of the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), Margie A.S. Lehrman will retire from her role as Chief Executive Officer, transitioning into a newly created CEO Emeritus position on May 1. ACSA Chief Operating Officer...
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 20, 2026)—Today, the United States Supreme Court (“SCOTUS”), in a 6-3 ruling, issued its opinion that the tariffs imposed under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act by President Donald J. Trump are unlawful. ACSA welcomes and applauds this decision. Tariffs on many of our packaging inputs, together with...
Released today, the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans continue to recommend moderation in alcohol consumption for better health, largely in line with ACSA’s long-standing perspective.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 13, 2025)—The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) welcomes the end of the federal government shutdown and the anticipated return of U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) employees to their posts within the next few days. As TTB reactivates core functions, craft distilleries should...
The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) recently submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding its Draft Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2026–2030. In the letter, ACSA commended the FTC’s commitment to fostering fair competition and urged the agency to commission a comprehensive study of the beverage alcohol marketplace—specifically examining how...
Citing Continued Economic & Market Access Headwinds, Producers Report Volume & Value Losses Washington, D.C. (October 21, 2025) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and Park Street today presented highlights from the 2025 Craft Spirits Data Project (CSDP) at its Annual Craft Spirits Economic Briefing. Jordan Cotton (President,...
Sacramento, Calif. (October 15, 2025) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and the California Distillers Association (CDA) applaud the State of California on the passage of AB 1246, a direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping bill. The bill extends temporary allowances for California distillers, and also includes the ability for out-of-state...
The federal government has officially shut down following Congress’s failure to reach a funding agreement. This shutdown has immediate and significant consequences for craft distilleries. Recently, ACSA urged the Treasury Department to keep label and formula approvals operational during any shutdown. Unfortunately, those services have now been suspended as...
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