Alcohol Beverages

At Mirick, we represent a dynamic spectrum of clients in the alcohol beverage industry—from innovative startups to established legacy brands—navigating the complex, ever-changing landscape of alcohol regulation across multiple jurisdictions.

Our attorneys deliver practical, results-oriented legal solutions tailored to the unique demands of this highly regulated industry. We have particular experience advising craft breweries, boutique wineries, artisan distilleries, and specialty retailers operating at the forefront of market trends and regulatory challenges.

Whether you’re opening your first tasting room, scaling operations, or addressing licensing or compliance issues, we offer strategic, business-focused counsel aligned with your goals and growth stage.

We partner with clients to mitigate risk while helping clients seize opportunity in a tightly regulated environment. We provide end-to-end support in areas including:

Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Approvals

• Federal permitting, compliance, and ongoing reporting with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
• State and local alcoholic beverage licensing across all tiers of the distribution system.
• On- and off-premise licenses for retailers, restaurants, breweries, distilleries, taprooms, and tasting rooms.
• License transfers, change-of-control approvals, and other licensing modifications, including updates to ownership structures, corporate officers, and premises details.
• Land use matters, including conditional use permits, zoning compliance, and representation at local hearings.

Craft Beverage Counsel

• Entity formation and business structuring for breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries.
• Advising on alternating proprietorships, contract production arrangements, and collaborative manufacturing models.
• Navigating self-distribution rights, limitations, and strategic approaches across jurisdictions.

Transactions & Strategic Partnerships

• Mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments involving beverage alcohol businesses.
• Purchase and sale of brand assets, including related license and permit transfers.
• Drafting and negotiation of distribution, co-packing, and private label agreements.
• Shareholder, operating, and joint venture agreements structured with regulatory compliance in mind.

Regulatory Enforcement & Litigation

• Representation in enforcement actions before the TTB, state Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) boards, State Liquor Authorities (SLA), and local agencies.
• Defense against citations, license suspensions, revocations, and related disciplinary actions.
• Advocacy in license protest hearings, appeals, and administrative litigation.

We measure our success by the success of our clients.

We recently represented a group of medical professionals in their successful acquisition of Distraction Brewing Co., a craft brewery located in Roslindale.

This unique transaction highlights the entrepreneurial spirit of our clients as they transition from healthcare to the craft beverage industry. Attorneys Zach Luczyk and Jeff Swaim provided comprehensive legal counsel, including corporate structuring, due diligence, contract negotiation, and regulatory guidance tailored to the alcoholic beverage sector.