Mississippi distilleries are getting some help from the legislature. On Wednesday, a bill was passed on the House Floor that makes it easier for the distilleries to received their permits.
“House Bill 171 deals with a fledgling, but yet vibrant and expanding industry dealing with distilleries in the state of Mississippi,” said Representative Hank Zuber who presented the bill.
Zuber said that there are four distilleries in Mississippi and they are located in Adams, Hinds, Jackson, and Hancock Counties.
“The only thing that we are trying change is to help this fledgling industry grow and expand and pay more taxes, so we are changing the privilege license from $4,500 to $1,800 to make it fair and equitable compared to the other alcohol and craft beer manufacturers.”
Zuber said that his intent for the future of alcohol laws in Mississippi is to delete the prohibition laws in the state and then allow each county to decide whether to stay wet or have a dry county.
“We ought to just delete prohibition and then if you want to go dry opt out by a vote,” Zuber said. “Each county would have either a direct or reverse referendum vote. Qualified resort areas are able to distribute alcohol at different hours within a county that is completely dry, It would stop us from carving out and creating a hodgepodge of wet and dry counties in Mississippi.”
