Alva C. Mather
Subscribe to Alva C. Mather's PostsAlva C. Mather focuses her practice on alcohol beverage and cannabis regulatory and commercial matters. She represents companies in the alcohol beverage industry, including brewers, distillers, wineries, importers and retailers. Additionally, she works with clients in the growing cannabis space and has in-depth knowledge of the evolving legal and regulatory issues facing this industry. Read Alva Mather's full bio.
The Tax Implications of Purchasing Craft Producers in the First Half of a Year
By Alva C. Mather on Aug 10, 2023
Posted In Alcohol Excise Taxes, Transactions
If a large beverage company is considering purchasing or selling a craft beverage producer, it’s essential to understand how the craft producer may lose its earlier eligibility for reduced tax rates under the Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA) in the first half of a calendar year once it becomes a member of the purchaser’s larger...
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Key Takeaways | Trends in Customer Data Acquisition and Use for Alcohol Companies
By Alva C. Mather, Scott Ferber, Amy Pimentel and David Saunders on Jun 23, 2023
Posted In Advertising and Marketing
In a recent webinar, Alva Mather, Scott Ferber, Amy Pimentel and David Saunders reviewed how alcohol companies should be thinking about and maximizing their data. They shared innovative marketing strategies and addressed privacy and cybersecurity considerations from an alcohol commercial side. Some of the significant topics discussed included: Keeping Ahead of Supply Chain Cyber Threats...
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Key Takeaways | Going Green: Environmental and Sustainability Risks and Opportunities for Alcohol Companies
By Alva C. Mather, Jacob Hollinger, Carl Fleming and Parker Lee on Apr 27, 2023
Posted In General Interest, Legislation, Transactions
In a recent webinar, Alva Mather, Jacob Hollinger, Carl Fleming and Parker Lee guided attendees through the unique energy-related challenges and opportunities for alcoholic beverages companies presented by current megatrends relating to environmental, social and governance (ESG), carbon and sustainability. Some of the significant topics discussed included: Sustainability Trends Related Trapdoor Risks Sustainability Opportunities Across the Alcohol and Other Industries...
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2022 TTB Industry Circular 1: Consignment Sales
By Alva C. Mather, Nichole Shustack and Isabelle Cunningham on Jan 5, 2023
Posted In Advertising and Marketing, Alcohol Excise Taxes, General Interest, Import/Export, Legislation, Trade Practices, Transactions
Each year the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issues “Industry Circulars” that apply statutory or regulatory requirements to a “specific circumstance or set of facts” or restate existing requirements. TTB also uses Industry Circulars to announce new statutory requirements or to discuss certain corrective actions. The last few years have been relatively...
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2022 TTB Industry Circular 2: Social Media Advertising
By Alva C. Mather, Nichole Shustack and Isabelle Cunningham on Jan 5, 2023
Posted In Advertising and Marketing, Alcohol Excise Taxes, General Interest, Import/Export, Legislation, Trade Practices, Transactions
Due to the uptick in alcohol advertisement on social media platforms, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued guidance on advertising via social media and how TTB’s rules on advertising generally apply in this new and important context, as summarized below. TTB views an entire page or site as a single advertisement,...
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TTB Industry Circular 3: Calculating Tax Rates and Tax Credits on Imported Distilled Spirits
By Alva C. Mather, Nichole Shustack and Isabelle Cunningham on Jan 5, 2023
Posted In Advertising and Marketing, Alcohol Excise Taxes, General Interest, Import/Export, Legislation, Trade Practices, Transactions
In the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s (TTB) final Industry Circular of the year, they provided DSPs guidance on how to calculate effective tax rates for distilled spirits products eligible for the Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA) reduced tax rates, as well as providing importers with guidance on calculating and using effective tax...
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Alcohol Suppliers Hit with ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuits
By Jeremy White and Alva C. Mather on Jun 7, 2022
Posted In Advertising and Marketing, General Interest
The increasing popularity of online shopping is placing e-commerce businesses—specifically those in the alcohol beverage industry—in legal crosshairs. In lockstep with a recent uptick in website accessibility cases, plaintiff firms are sending pre-suit demand letters to alcohol suppliers and, in some cases, even filing a state or federal court lawsuit. These lawsuits—which are typically filed...
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The Expanding Landscape of Alcohol Delivery Services
By Alva C. Mather on May 4, 2022
Posted In Advertising and Marketing, Distribution, Licensing, Trade Practices
Following consumer trends and fueled by the pandemic and related loosening of restrictions on in-state retailer alcohol delivery regulations, the marketplace for alcohol delivery services has expanded exponentially over the last several years and shows no signs of slowing down. Industry forecasts predict double-digit growth year-over-year until at least 2025 for alcohol-focused e-commerce platforms. However,...
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Treasury Responds to Biden Administration Executive Order with Report, Recommendations to Increase Alcohol Industry Competition
By Alva C. Mather and Greg Heltzer on Feb 15, 2022
Posted In Uncategorized
On February 9, 2022, the US Treasury Department (Treasury) released a report with recommendations for how the Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) can help drive competition in the beer, wine and spirits markets by stepping up conduct enforcement, adopting creative and nuanced theories of harm...
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Second Prop 65 Amendment Effective April 1, 2021: New Warnings Required
By Alva C. Mather, Nichole Shustack and Isabelle Cunningham on Mar 26, 2021
Posted In Distribution, General Interest, Legislation, Transactions
The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, also known as Proposition 65 (Prop 65), was enacted as a ballot initiative and requires businesses to inform Californians about exposures to chemicals that are known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. The regulation prohibits knowing or intentional exposure of any individual...
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