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Canned cocktails in Michigan to get more alcohol, less tax

Published  May 25, 2021 8:51am EDT
Food and Drink
Associated Press

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich (AP) - Canned cocktails in Michigan will be less expensive and can have a higher alcohol content starting this summer after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of bills at a distillery in Grand Rapids on Monday.

Under the legislation signed at Long Road Distillers, private wholesalers such as distilleries can sell canned cocktails with up to 13.5% alcohol, up from 10% starting in August. The legislation also decreases the tax on mixed spirits from 48 cents to 30 cents per liter.

"This is a great example of bipartisan legislation that will create jobs and help our small businesses grow, and shows what we can do when we work together," Whitmer said in a news release. "Distillers are a growing industry in Michigan, and these bill make it easier for distillers to distribute their products."

The pandemic has sparked greater interest in canned cocktails, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

"Ready-to-drink cocktails saw a huge increase in 2020 and show no signs of slowing down," David Wojnar, council senior vice president, said in a news release. "Expanding the outlets where spirits-based RTDs can be sold will increase consumer convenience and provide additional revenue to the state. Consumers will also benefit from the reduced tax rate for these popular products."

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