HB1466: HB1466 Alcoholic beverages; satellite tasting rooms operated by brewers; provide

Georgia law lets brewers sell their own malt beverages directly to customers at their licensed brewing premises, as a narrow exception to the state's three-tier system that normally requires beer to move from manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer. This bill expands that exception by creating a new category called a 'satellite tasting room,' a separate location under the same ownership as the brewer where the brewer can also sell beer straight to the public. A brewer could operate up to two of these satellite tasting rooms, subject to registration, reporting, and inspection rules set by the state revenue commissioner. Beer transferred to a satellite tasting room would be exempt from an existing cap tied to brand ownership, but all such transfers must still be reported to the state every quarter. The satellite room could also get its own retail license to serve other alcoholic beverages. The rule-making parts of the bill take effect once the Governor signs it; everything else takes effect July 1, 2026.

• Creates a new legal category, the 'satellite tasting room,' a separate location under the same ownership as a brewer where the brewer can sell its beer directly to customers.
• Allows a brewer to operate up to two satellite tasting rooms, licensed under registration, reporting, and inspection rules set by the commissioner.
• Exempts beer transferred to a satellite tasting room from the existing limit that ties transferred beer to brands the brewer solely owns, as long as the transfers are reported quarterly.
• Lets a satellite tasting room hold a separate retail license to serve other alcoholic beverages and buy from licensed wholesalers, manufacturers, and importers.
• Keeps existing limits in place, including a 288-ounce daily cap on off-premises sales per person and a 6,000-barrel yearly cap across all of a brewer's licensed locations.

Georgia craft brewers and their owners, the state Department of Revenue (through the commissioner's rulemaking and reporting requirements), licensed alcohol wholesalers and retailers, and consumers who buy beer directly from brewers or at satellite tasting rooms.

Brewers currently can only sell directly to customers at their brewing site. This bill would let them open a second and third retail-style location under looser transfer rules, potentially expanding where Georgians can buy beer directly from the maker and blurring the traditional separation between brewers, wholesalers, and retailers.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 3-5-24.1 to define 'satellite tasting room' as a separate, commonly owned location authorized to sell a brewer's malt beverages to the public.
• Subsection (h) caps the number of satellite tasting rooms per brewer at two and directs the commissioner to set registration, reporting, and inspection rules.
• Subsection (c)(2) exempts transfers of beer to a satellite tasting room from the usual limit tying transfers to brands the brewer solely owns, but requires quarterly reporting of all such transfers.
• Subsection (h) permits a satellite tasting room to hold its own retail license and purchase from licensed wholesalers, manufacturers, and importers, without expanding wholesale distribution rights.
• Existing caps remain: no daily limit on on-premises consumption sales, a 288-ounce daily cap for off-premises sales per person, and a 6,000-barrel yearly cap across all of a brewer's licensed premises.
• Section 2 makes the rulemaking provisions effective upon the Governor's approval, with all other provisions effective July 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-03House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-26House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-25House Hopper (House)

• Jason Ridley (R, HD-006)Primary sponsor
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)
• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)
• Demetrius Douglas (D, HD-078)
• Jaclyn Ford (R, HD-170)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)

• alcohol law
• craft breweries
• liquor licensing
• tasting rooms