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Wholesale Liquor Licenses Lawyers
Obtaining a liquor license for your business may seem like a relatively straightforward matter and it can be, but there are also circumstances that can complicate the process. While it’s not necessary to obtain the assistance of an attorney to obtain the wholesale liquor license, it can sometimes prove to be a benefit to have an experienced advocate at your side.
How Can Attorneys Help With Obtaining a Liquor License?
The rules for obtaining liquor licenses vary from state to state, but, overall, they represent a strictly enforced set of laws. As such, they’re often more complex than most people realize and, without experienced insight, some business owners end up violating the laws unintentionally. By working with a lawyer, business owners can ensure they will be able to secure the license and will have someone explain the conditions upon which the license is based.
Violating the conditions of a liquor license can result in disciplinary action and legal sanctions, so you want ensure you fully understand the terms of the license. Additionally, working with an attorney means you’ll have an advocate knowledgeable about your situation in the event that you are accused of violating the liquor license regulations. This way, your attorney can better help you come out of an administrative hearing with the best possible results.
Some common violations that land business owners in trouble with the law are selling liquors that they’re not approved to sell and selling alcohol to minors, or those under the state’s legal drinking age. If any violation is suspected, the business will receive an official accusation, which is a document that lists the acts under question and the laws which those acts violated.
Following receipt of the accusation, the business owner is granted the right to an administrative hearing. Conducted in front of a judge, the hearing allows the business owner to defend himself against the charges brought forth in the accusation. Enlisting the help of an attorney for this hearing may allow the business owner to prove that the business did not commit the violations established in the accusation.
Selling Liquor Wholesale
When it comes to selling alcohol products wholesale, there are a number of details that make the process more successful. These tips also ensure you’re abiding by the laws of the state, so you can avoid negative consequences that could jeopardize your future. For instance, it’s important to know whether you’re doing business in an open or control state. In control states, the state government restricts the sale of alcoholic beverages and serves as the sole distributor throughout that state. This means that a private marketplace for the distribution of alcohol does not exist in these states.
Next, ensure you’re licensed properly at all levels of the government. In addition to applying for a license from the state’s department of alcohol beverage control, you must also file paperwork with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
As distributor, you’ll need to establish a customer base in your area, once you’re legally licensed to conduct business in your area. This not only means establishing a rapport with local restaurant, bar, and retail liquor store owners, but also establishing competitive prices for your products. In determining this, you’ll need a thorough understanding of each product’s sales volumes, retail prices, and the amount of shelf space each product is given in each of your customers’ businesses. Fortunately, organizations like the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association collect this type of data for you, offering analytical reports for a fee.
Finally, it comes time to work directly with the retailer. For the major brands, your sales pitch will probably be focused on offering lower prices than your competitors, especially if you’re trying to convince new clients to abandon their current distributors. Devising incentive campaigns to drive up customer sales may also help you to get new clients to sign on with your distributorship. The key is to show your willingness to support the different marketing strategies employed by your clients and by the liquor manufacturers, as this will convince potential clients that you’re just as driven as they are in increasing customer sales.
Selling alcoholic beverages can be a worthwhile and lucrative business, but it all begins with obtaining the proper licenses. Working with an attorney to obtain the necessary government licenses can ensure your business will operate efficiently and free of legal hassles for years to come.