California craft liquor delivery is about to go away thanks to big money lobbying

California's craft distillers are facing a New Year's cutoff. For the past six years, residents have been able to order spirits directly from small distilleries. That permission — issued as a pandemic emergency measure — expires January first. And powerful alcohol companies, the wine industry, and the Teamsters union have spent millions to keep it dead. Assembly Member Josh Hoover tried to make the arrangement permanent this year, but behind-the-scenes lobbying killed the effort. The opposition spent over one million dollars on lobbying this year alone, and has donated more than eleven million dollars to California politicians over the years. By contrast, craft distillers spent fifty-four thousand dollars on lobbying and made just three campaign donations in a decade. With the legislative session ending August thirty-first, lawmakers would need to act in the next few weeks — but Hoover said he doesn't have much hope.

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