Some might say that Georgia—and the South at large—has had a love-hate relationship with alcohol. Prohibition lasted longer in Georgia, from 1908 until 1935, than in any other state. However, there is no doubt that the state’s views of alcohol, and craft breweries in particular, have warmed up in recent years.
The laws regulating the brewing, distribution and sale of beer have evolved in leaps and bounds during the past 20 years. In 2004, the Georgia craft beer era began in earnest when a state law removed the 6% alcohol by volume limit that had been in place since 1935. Sunday sales of alcohol were legalized in 2011. The Beer Jobs Bill in 2015 allowed customers to purchase limited volumes of beer for on-premises and off-premises consumption. Two years later, GMA supported a law that permitted brewers to serve beer on-premises just as bars can, and sell up to 1 million bottles of beer per year directly to the public. That volume limit for direct sales doubled to 2 million bottles in 2021.
As the laws changed, the Georgia brewery scene exploded. Cities small and large have reaped the benefits. Based on the most recent data from University of Georgia’s annual state Alcoholic Beverage Industry Outlook, as of 2023 Georgia ranked 18th in the country with 181 craft breweries, triple the number of breweries in the state in 2016. Georgia is ranked 13th nationally for total economic impact of breweries, which contribute $715 million to the state’s gross domestic product. According to the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild, the state’s beer, wine and spirits industry combine to create more than 5,000 jobs, and alcohol sales have created more than $500 million in state tax revenue.
Many cities have found that breweries can jumpstart tourism, economic development and downtown revitalization. A local brew pub can quickly become a community gathering spot. Breweries from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Georgia coast have attracted companion restaurants and retailers. These local businesses draw visitors from Georgia and beyond for tours and tastings.
However, there has been a slight but noticeable contraction of the industry over the past 3 years, with a number of breweries closing their doors. At least 15 Georgia breweries closed in 2024. This has led some craft brewery advocates to seek changes to Georgia’s three-tier system of alcohol distribution, which allows craft brewers sell their products to wholesale distributors, who then sell the products to retailers like restaurants and grocery stores.
In the 2025 legislative session, Senator John Albers (R-Roswell) introduced Senate Bill 122. Known as the Craft Beer and Local Economy Revitalization Act, the bill would allow a limited wholesale license to breweries to sell their own products directly to retailers. Brewers would be allowed to sell up to 3,000 barrels of beer produced at their premises to wholesale retailers in Georgia.
SB122 failed to move during the legislative session. There is a healthy mix of support and concern about changes to Georgia’s established distribution model. However, it is clear the state remains invested in fostering a healthy brewery industry that benefits our municipalities in myriad ways.