Illinois craft distillers face tough future without changes to liquor law

By FJ Hilgart

03/10/2025

Liquor regulations written at the end of Prohibition are strangling Illinois’ craft distillers. A new bill is trying to change that.

TAGS: jobs, liquor laws, small business

Lightfoot pushes permanent 10 p.m. curfew on liquor store sales in Chicago

By Patrick Andriesen

05/26/2021

Grocery and liquor stores would be barred from selling beer, wine and liquor after 10 p.m. if Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot gets her way. She said the move would curb crime by stopping gatherings outside liquor stores and help recovering bars and restaurants.

TAGS: Chicago, COVID-19, curfew, liquor laws, Lori Lightfoot

Repeal Day: Prohibition ended 86 years ago, but Illinois’ alcohol taxes, regulations remain sobering

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2019

With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. Illinois, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, Bruce Rauner, capital plan, Chicago, craft beer, distillery, Hospitality Business Association of Chicago, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, Midwest, prohibition, Sara Feigenholtz, soda tax, taxes, Toni Preckwinkle, vape ban, vaping, Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois

Bottle racket: Illinois’ high alcohol taxes blow up cost of Independence Day celebrations

By Vincent Caruso

07/03/2019

Ahead of Independence Day, Illinoisans near the state border exercise their freedom to purchase alcohol in low-tax neighboring states.

TAGS: alcohol tax, liquor laws, taxes

Repeal Day: Illinois’ sobering alcohol taxes, regulations a reminder of Prohibition

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2018

With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. The Land of Lincoln, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, soda tax, taxes

Free beer: How Illinois could become the country’s craft capital

By Austin Berg

08/16/2018

State lawmakers should seize the momentum in Illinois. Let your people brew. And transport. And sell.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, craft beer, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Rauner signs bill lifting restrictions on craft breweries

By Vincent Caruso

08/13/2018

Laws barring taprooms from serving hard cider – and craft beer produced by other breweries – are among the regulations bounced by House Bill 4897.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Bruce Rauner, craft beer, Jason Barickman, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Rauner signs bill relaxing outdated liquor license restrictions

08/03/2018

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 2436 on Aug. 2, a move that will increase local control over liquor licensure.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Bruce Rauner, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Bottle racket: Illinois’ high alcohol taxes boost cost of Independence Day celebrations

By Eddie Damstra

07/03/2018

The Land of Lincoln has some of the highest alcohol taxes in the Midwest. And Illinoisans preparing for Independence Day are feeling the pinch.

TAGS: alcohol tax, craft beer, liquor laws, taxes

Bill amending prohibitive liquor licensing law goes to governor’s desk

06/04/2018

The measure would relax statewide restrictions on liquor licensure and encourage local control.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, licensing, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, small business