On May 8, 2017, Governor Nathan Deal signed Senate Bill 85 into law. This legislation allows manufacturers of distilled spirits and malt beverages to sell limited quantities of their products directly to consumers, both for on-premises and off-premises consumption. These sales are restricted to products that are manufactured on-site, and can only be made to consumers who visit the distillery or brewery.

SB 85 specifies the allowable sales quantities on both an annual basis and a per-consumer, per-day basis. It also allows distillers and brewers to sell their products during the same days and hours that retailers are permitted to sell, including Sundays.

Manufacturers are required to remit local sales and excise taxes for all direct sales made to consumers. Additionally, SB 85 modifies the "brewpub" exception to Georgia’s three-tier alcohol distribution system by allowing brewpub license holders to sell wine and beer by the package, subject to local approval.

The effective date of SB 85 is September 1, 2017, so any related provisions should not have an effective date before then.