Free web session to cover legal side of craft brewing

Opening and running a small business can be a difficult process, with labor laws, taxes and other strains. However, when beer or wine is in the mix, things get much more complicated, according to a news release from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The National Agricultural Law Center is hosting a free webinar at noon Oct. 21 to address craft beer and the law. Those interested can register free at https://bit.ly/3mtuCJH.

The webinar presenter will be Candace L. Moon, owner and partner of The Craft Beer Attorney, who is aiming to help brewers and small business owners manage the intersection of their interests.

Craft beer is a growing market across the United States, with the industry raking in $29.3 billion in sales in 2019, according to the release.

“Working as a bartender during law school I met countless brewers and I realized there were no attorneys catering to this legally complicated industry,” Moon said. “Over the past 11 years in this business I have helped brewers understand the legal process and risks associated with opening a brewery.”

Moon has assisted more than 450 breweries and breweries-in-planning nationwide, according to the release.

At the webinar, Moon will discuss laws and considerations necessary for opening and running a craft beer brewery. Although her practice is focused on breweries, the topics Moon will cover often intersect with the legal considerations necessary for wineries and distilleries.

“There are numerous hurdles associated with opening a craft beer brewery or similar operation,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the NALC. “Legal considerations such as alcoholic beverage law, trademark law, and employment law are all issues that are important, yet complicated. We’re very excited to have Candace walk us through these issues and more.”

The National Agricultural Law Center is a unit of the U of A System Division of Agriculture. Details: https://nationalaglawcenter.org/.