Monday, March 16, 2020 www.nabca.org

• Ohio Division of Control Allowing Return of High Proof Liquor Products • Texas Now Allowing Trucks From Alcohol Industry To Deliver Supplies To Grocery Stores TODAY’S • Discussion on Nagaland liquor prohibition act attracts many HIGHLIGHTS • Federal Disease Chief Urges a Shutdown of Restaurants • Bar Closures and Restaurant Restrictions to Take Place Across the U.S. Due to Coronavirus Outbreak

NABCA NEWS CONTROL STATE NEWS

83RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE PA: Pa. to close state liquor stores starting Monday Registration for NABCA’s Annual Conference at our MediaNews Group new location is open. To register, please visit our March 15, 2020 website at www.nabca.org/meeting. HARRISSBURG — The coronavirus outbreak is about to cut off sales of wine and alcohol at state stores in TTB Alcohol Trade Practice Video Series several Pennsylvania counties. TTB provides on-demand alcohol educational The state is moving to close the doors on stores in information Videos: https://www.ttb.gov/news/see-our-new- Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks ttb-trade-practice-video-series) Counties on Tuesday as the state continues to attack the spread of the coronavirus and COVID-19.

Most stores were open regular hours on Sunday. On NABCA WEBINAR Monday, things start changing. Here's what the NEW! Women. Alcohol. Health. - From Blackouts to state has in mind. Breast Cancer. webinar is now available on our website. Visit www.nabca.org/Resources/Webinars OH: Ohio Division of Liquor Control Allowing Return of High Proof Liquor Products JOB OPPORTUNITY We are seeking a dynamic Metropreneur and experienced professional to serve as the Chief By Anne Evans Information Officer. If you have professional March 15, 2020 experience managing all phases of information In light of the developing Coronavirus issue in Ohio, technology projects for an organization within a on March 14, 2020, it was announced that bars and consumer packaged goods/retail industry, the PLCB restaurants will be allowed to return a high proof wants to talk to you! liquor product, purchased within the past 30 days. Please visit https://www.employment.pa.gov for more information and to apply. Applications will be The process is noted to be easy and permitted, accepted through March 23, 2020 hoping to provide some help for small businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic in Ohio. The Ohio Restaurant Association is keeping a list of resources of developing changes that bars and restaurants should be aware of. 2

How to Return Liquor in Ohio During the delivery. What we can’t have is people congregating Coronavirus Pandemic: and seated.” • All a bar/restaurant or F2 permit holder needs to Resources for Bars and Restaurants About do is bring the unopened product back to the Coronavirus: Agency from which they purchased the product. For resources, visit OhioRestaurant.org, and the • The Agencies will call the Liquor Enterprise Ohio Department of Health’s website specifically for Service Center (LESC) for approval. Approval is Coronavirus updates. For resources to help one deal immediate, but awareness of the return is with the stress and mental toll of the Coronavirus necessary. pandemic in Ohio, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov.

• For questions or more information regarding the one-time high proof liquor buy back, please feel MI: AG Urges Restaurant Industry to ‘Act free to contact the LESC at 877-812-0013 or Responsibly’ When It Comes to New Capacity Rules [email protected] Bars could have their liquor licenses revoked and owners • This courtesy also extends to those who may could be charged with misdemeanors for not observing have obtained a temporary permit (F2) for an the new executive orders event, scheduled between 3/12 – 4/6, and that Eater event is now cancelled. Additional consideration by Brenna Houck will be given closer to 4/6 if needed. March 15, 2020 As of March 15, 2020, bars and restaurants have As reports flowed in of large gatherings moving been ordered to close to the public. Establishments forward ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, the Michigan can stay open for carry-out and delivery. (updated state attorney general’s office held a press 3:54pm to reflect Governor Mike DeWine’s latest conference on Sunday calling on business owners to update). “act responsibly” and observe capacity rules to slow Scott Ellsworth, owner of Thr3es and Fours, has the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. made the decision to close both bars until the Governor Gretchen Whitmer enacted an emergency pandemic recedes. order banning gatherings of 250 people or more on “Our staff and customers mean too much to us and March 13 to enforce “social distancing” across the our responsibility is to keep them safe,” Ellsworth state. Meanwhile, Oakland and Ingham counties are noted in a Facebook post. “Your well being is and in the process of enacting rules to reduce capacity at always will be more important than our bottom restaurants, bars, and other venues by 50 percent. line.” Attorney General Dana Nessel told attendees that Ellsworth says the offer from the state is nice but the state would be enforcing rules on capacity and he’s unsure if he will use it, and thinks the 30 day that business owners would be facing purchase date may need to be extended. misdemeanors and the possibility of losing their liquor license if they did not heed the warnings. “If we can be back open in a month or so, it’s Patrons will not be cited. “I think what bars and doubtful we’ll use this,” he says. “It depends on how restaurants have to appreciate is that it’s much long we stay closed. It’s a nice offer from them better for them to stay open right now… than to be though, because I’m sure there’s plenty of bars that closed down for an indefinite period of time for not will help.” following the order,” Nessel said. Michelle Hill, owner of St James Tavern, has also While the statewide rule only requires disbanding closed her bar for the next two weeks. groups of 250 or more at this time, state lawmakers Update 3:54pm: Governor Mike DeWine has and representatives for the service industry “urge ordered all bars and restaurants to close beginning people to consider going further,” Linda Vail, health at 9pm on Sunday, March 15. Via twitter: officer for Ingham county said during the briefing. “Establishments can stay open for carry-out and “One-size does not fit all in establishments,” she 3 said. “An establishment with a capacity of 250 is still you need to tip them the same way you would if you crowded with a capacity of 250.” were dining in.” Oakland County executive Dave Coulter reiterated Oakland County’s new rules on reduced capacity will that message. “The number isn’t as magical as the take effect on Monday, March 16. distance and the size,” of the establishment, Coulter said at the press conference. The 50 percent reduction of capacity “may seem drastic to some WY: Legislature works to ease challenges for folks,” he said, but warned that it still might not be 's microbrewing industry enough. “We’re going to continue to monitor that Douglas Budget and may take even more drastic measures.” By Nick Reynolds Justin Winslow, president of the Michigan March 15, 2020 Restaurant & Lodging Association was also present CHEYENNE – Inside the walls of the former at the event to lend support to the new measures. Minuteman Print Shop on 19th Street, dust swirled “It is rare for me on this issue to find myself as Tim Barnes, co-founder of the Wyoming Brewer’s advocating for this sort of action,” Winslow said. Guild and Sheridan-based Blacktooth , “We have strongly recommended to all of our showed off features of his soon-to-open brewery in members to heed the governor’s executive order.” the state capital. Restaurant owners care about their workforce and their guests and are doing their best to offer service There was a reclaimed barn door from a ranch on through carryout and delivery, he said. the edge of town, his two serving stations for busy nights, and the original 10-barrel brewing system Scott Ellis of the Michigan Licensed Beverage from his first brewery more than 300 miles up I-25. Association also took the mic to implore business Broad windows brought natural light into this owners to take appropriate action. “Bars and former industrial space and, in the corner, a stage restaurants are known as gathering places, so it will was already set up, ready to host bands on warm, already be a tough year [economically],” he said. By summer weekends. reducing capacity and disbanding large events, the state and hospitality industries “hope to avoid a For Barnes, Cheyenne made sense. While brewers in complete shutdown” of business as has been the states such as Oregon, and Colorado case in countries like Italy. “Many face irrecoverable have seen their most successful breweries go losses if we don’t get this under control,” he said, national, those in places like Montana, South but a shutdown could “cripple Michigan’s hospitality Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska – due to population industry.” and geography – face difficulties growing far beyond their borders. Factors like Wyoming’s low In addition to reiterating the rules regarding public population and its longstanding water scarcity gatherings, Nessel also took time to address reports naturally limit the scale of its brewing industry. of price gouging. According to an Michigan executive order, it is now illegal to resell a product “The largest appeal has been staying local and being for a price that is “grossly in excess of the price” for recognized in your own market,” Barnes said. which it was originally purchased. Likewise Knowing that, Barnes eyed Cheyenne – and the well- businesses could face a criminal misdemeanor if paid, professional class in the city’s public sector – they’re found charging 20 percent more for items as an opportunity to expand his business. than they charged on March 9 — unless the business Even with a long time to go until opening, the owner can prove that the price increase is related to business already has a head brewer, manager and the cost of bringing the item to market. several staffers lined up. But there was one thing Nessel also encouraged diners to continue that wasn’t certain: whether the new brewery could patronizing restaurants through carryout and even be a part of his already-established company delivery and to tip. “Please remember they need to on the other side of the state. pay their rent. They need to pay their utilities,” she said of restaurant workers. “Please remember they 4

It wouldn’t have prevented him from opening, but capacity to smaller breweries that may require more would have forced him to open a second LLC – one room in order to meet their demands during the with its own worker’s compensation policy, its own high season. paperwork, its own structure, a process that he said Lawmakers see the legislation as an easy tool to help could have held him up as long as two to three bolster economic development in small months. communities around the state, an easy way to retain When a staff is already hired, that’s a long time to wealth in their communities and help encourage wait, and a lot of money, particularly at a time further investment in their downtowns. where Barnes was looking to expand his business on “I saw a picture of Cheyenne’s downtown around the heels of a new, $2 million-plus investment in World War One, and there were people all over the downtown Cheyenne. place,” Western said. “It was bustling. If you look at “When I sat down and spoke with the liquor division it 10, 15 years ago, there’s nothing. It’s businesses 12 months ago about this, we identified we were not like this that absolutely bring those downtown areas trying to do a satellite operation,” he said in an back to life.” interview with the Star-Tribune. “They had indicated That change in attitude, Barnes said, could initially that nothing would prevent us from that. potentially be chalked up to a change in perspective: But upon review of our plan and our permit, they while some may look at breweries in a similar identified very specific language about being at a category to bars and clubs, the state’s brewers single location.” prefer themselves to be seen more like light With their investment facing some opposition, the manufacturing. This year’s slate of legislation, to brewers turned to Rep. Cyrus Western, a Republican him, is a sign that perception may be shifting, from Sheridan, to carry a bill to essentially strike that particularly as every town from Ten Sleep and language for any brewer looking to do something Gillette to Evanston and Saratoga can boast at least similar. That legislation will likely be signed into law one brewery within their limits. soon. “[The legislation has] always been about excise tax “This isn’t special legislation just for one business,” or liquor law liability, things of that nature,” said Western said in an interview at the Capitol. “This is Barnes. “This is the first time that there’s been a something that can benefit an entire class of couple of bills unrelated to those subjects. They business. If any brewery wants to expand to a were very business-oriented and just growth- second location – whether it’s in that town or in oriented. The state has always been favorable to the another town around the state – this can cut some craft brewing industry and this year is no different.” of the red tape for them.” What might be more significant, however, is the LICENSE STATE NEWS turning of a corner for the , which – while generally favorable to small business TX: Texas Now Allowing Trucks from Alcohol and the state’s burgeoning microbrewery industry – Industry to Deliver Supplies To Grocery Stores has at times, eyed alcohol-related legislation with a CBS DFW wary eye. March 15, 2020 That has changed in the last few years, however. AUSTIN, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – In an effort to keep Last year, the Legislature passed Laramie grocery stores stocked during the growing concern Democratic Rep. ’s Beer Freedom Act of the coronavirus outbreak, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott – which allows microbreweries to receive 24-hour has waived laws in order to allow trucks from the event permits to sell their wares. This session, the alcohol industry to deliver supplies to those stores. Legislature looked favorably on legislation The announcement was made Sunday afternoon sponsored by others like Rep. , R- with Abbott saying those stores seeing low stocks of Casper, to allow for expanded contract brewing in supplies will be able to look to the private sector for Wyoming. This would essentially allow breweries help. with rooms in their tanks to provide additional 5

This comes as many stores across Texas and the U.S. location where the grapes were grown or the wine are seeing empty shelves of items like sanitation made, instead of just the state. supplies, toilet paper and bottled water. Customers “It will give the Verde Valley area much greater have been stocking up on these types of supplies as recognition,” said Tom Wark, a spokesman for the health officials are recommending that people, National Association of Wine Retailers. “It will lead especially senior citizens or those with underlying to more people visiting the wineries, for sure, and it health conditions, avoid crowded areas. will increase the recognition of the wines made from Officials have also said that anyone showing those grapes.” symptoms of the coronavirus, which are flu-like, will A spokesman for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and potentially be asked to self-quarantine that their Trade Bureau said the federal title mainly lets grape own homes, leaving them without an opportunity to growers give more information about the grapes to run to the store. their customers. The public-comment period on the Those stores seeing low stocks are now expected to application is open until April 28. see some help. There are currently 247 designated AVAs in the U.S., “This is yet another example of the private sector the best-known probably being Napa Valley in stepping up and Texans helping Texans as we all . Eight applications are under review, work to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our including Verde Valley’s, which would join two other state,” Abbott said in a statement Sunday. “… By AVAs in Arizona: Willcox, which was designated in waiving these regulations, we are streamlining the 2016, and Sonoita, which was designated in 1984. process to replenish the shelves in grocery stores Mark Beres, the president of Flying Leap Vineyards, across the state.” owns several vineyards in Willcox and Sonoita and The governor also made it a point to say that there said the initial media attention that comes with an is no reason to be hoarding supplies. AVA designation does help in the short run. But he thinks they may have reached a saturation point. “We are all in this together, and I want to remind all Texans that hoarding resources is neither necessary “At this point, there are so many AVAs in the United nor productive. Texas has the supplies to meet the States,” Beres said. “I think the power of the AVA needs of Texans, and we will continue to expedite designation has gone down.” the flow of groceries to stores across the state,” he Willcox’s designation as an AVA has had little to no said. impact on customer traffic or pricing power for him – perhaps, he said, because customers don’t often know what an AVA is. AZ: Verde Valley close to becoming a designated wine region “And if you’re sitting there and you have five to 10 minutes to spend with a customer, you’re going to AZ Big Media March 15, 2020 be talking about the wine, not the AVA,” he said. Wine drinkers may soon be able to reach for that Still, he said, he hopes that Verde Valley wineries Verde Valley vintage, if local wineries and vineyards see a bigger impact with the designation. have their way. Wark said this is an appropriate time for the area to Their application to designate the Verde Valley as a be recognized federally because Arizona wines have federally recognized American Viticultural Area is been receiving more attention from the media. The nearing approval by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax federal designation increases the value of the wines and Trade Bureau. and the grapes grown inside the area, he said, but most importantly gives the area credibility. If approved, the designation would allow vineyards and vintners in a 200-square-mile area of Yavapai Arizona wine tourism industry generated about County to label their product with the specific $56.2 million in economic output in 2017, according to a report by the Arizona Office of Tourism. 6

Paula Woolsey, the vice president of the Verde While these venues may remain open and serve Valley Wine Consortium, said wineries being able to customers, they are precluded from holding label their produce with a specific region can make concerts, DJ’d events, conferences, and other a big difference in marketing. similar happenings until the Public Health Emergency Order is lifted. “The smaller you go as far as designating where it comes from, the more impactful it is for people to “We recognize that this is a hardship on New Mexico sell it,” Woolsey said. licensees, but the health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic mandate these temporary Woolsey said what makes Verde Valley wine unique restrictions,” Director Andrew Vallejos said. is the drastic change in temperature from day to night. A range of 110 degrees in the day to 60 The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing degrees at night, she said, is ideal for growing grapes Department regulates more than 425,000 for wine and keeps them at balanced levels of sweet individuals and businesses in 35 industries, and acidic. professions and trades across the state. Its goal is to assure that New Mexicans receive quality services The consortium’s request has been under review for from qualified individuals and businesses while also three years, but she thinks the wait will be worth it. ensuring fair and prompt administrative process. “We’re a really small wine region, and the AVA is going to be a small AVA,” Woolsey said. “But when INTERNATIONAL NEWS we finally get it, it’s going to help us let the world know what we have going on here.” India: Discussion on Nagaland liquor prohibition act attracts many A conversation on Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibtion Act NM: New Mexico Alcoholic Beverage Control 1989 was held at Dimapur recently where citizens from Advising Liquor Licensees Amid COVID-19 Pandemic all walks of life took part in the programme Los Almos Daily Post East Mojo Submitted by Carol A. Clark March 16, 2020 March 15, 2020 Dimapur: The Heritage Publishing House, Morung Control Division News: Foundation and The Morung Express hosted an open floor discussion at Don Bosco Institute for SANTA FE – The New Mexico Regulation and Development and Leadership on the issue like Licensing Department’s Alcoholic Beverage Control “Should NLTP (Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition) Division is advising liquor licensees that the New Act continue in Nagaland” here recently. Mexico Department of Health has issued a Public Health Emergency Order, which limits mass The conversation was attended by people from gatherings as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. many walks in life and lauded the organisers for organising such an event during a juncture where “We want to ensure that New Mexico liquor the talk of the NLTP was a hot topic in the entire establishments are aware of the Order and state. The respondents consisting of K. Ela director understand the expectations,” Superintendent Prodigals Home, Kevisetuo Angmai additional Marguerite Salazar said. “The health and safety of commissioner excise department, Dimapur, Dr everyone is the number one priority.” Pangernungba Kichu professor of society, Christian Specifically, the public health order prohibits mass ethics and contextual theology, oriental theological gatherings of 100 or more people in a connected seminary, Dr Sallkyu Sangtam assistant professor, space such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, North East Christian University, Kahuto Chishi Sumi theater or other confined space. Gaon Bura Hevishe Village. There are some limited exclusions to the NMDOH The open remarks from the respondents brought up order including bars, restaurants, entertainment the topic in a much wider sense, where Dr Sallkyu venues, and other licensed similarly locations. Sangtam pointed out that the people are forgetting 7 the human aspects and focusing more on whether President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a to amend the prohibition or not. number of restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa and has tabled a gazette K Ela opened her talk by stating that the prohibition which classifies the pandemic as a national was carried out in good intention but the emergency under the Disaster Management Act. implementation went wrong and went on to say that the implementation of the NLTP was a failure. The declaration will allow the government to Ela further went on and added that the prohibition introduce legislation that provides powers to deal must be revisited and reevaluated by the citizens of with the pandemic without the traditional the state. paperwork or bureaucracy. Kahuto Chishi Sumi on the outset of his opening This includes special rules around procurement, the remark pointed out that the prohibition is affecting evacuation of people, and the regulation of the only the poor in our society. Chishi further pointed movement of persons and goods. out that alcoholics are only a small portion in the It will also allow the government to make state population and that when the state tries to proclamations around the following issues: decrease the number of consumers in the state, the alcoholics go up to the extend of anything to get • The release of any available resources of the their alcohol hence driving the poor to commit a national government including stores, equip- crime. ment, vehicles and facilities; The additional commissioner of excise department • Limitations on the sale of alcohol; Kevisetuo Angmai pointed out that the excise • Using government personnel for the rendering department of the state was low in manpower and of emergency services; gave out the numbers of the personnel that are employed in the state excise department and • The regulation of traffic to, from or within Dimapur district in particular. threatened areas; Dr Pangernungba Kichu opened his talk stating that • The regulation of the movement of persons and it would be wiser if the church was the first body in goods to, from or within the disaster-stricken or that state that should initiate to review the threatened area; prohibition act. He further went on to add that the • Any other steps that may be necessary to topic should be brought up in the public domain and prevent an escalation of the disaster. also praised the organisers for hosting the event and bringing the public to voice out. This national emergency will be in force for a period of three months (15 June) unless it is cancelled or The event also witnessed a good turn out in extended further. numbers where the participants in the event raised their own doubts and their opinions to the Restrictions respondent. With the prohibition of liquor in the In a speech on Sunday (15 March), the president said state of Nagaland in 1989, the state was declared as that South Africa has 61 confirmed cases of people a dry state but in the recent times, the students’ infected with the virus, with this number expected body in the state have been busting a lot of liquor to rise in the coming days and weeks. outlets in the state and in Dimapur district “This situation calls for an extraordinary response; particularly. there can be no half-measures,” said Ramaphosa, adding that a national state of disaster has been South Africa has declared coronavirus a national implemented in the country,” he said. disaster – giving the government these “We have decided to take urgent and drastic extraordinary powers measures to manage the disease, protect the people BusinessTech of our country and reduce the impact of the virus on By Staff Writer our society and on our economy.” March 16, 2020 8

Some of the measures announced by Ramaphosa Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s leading include: expert on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, has called for a 14-day shutdown of all bars and • Travellers from medium-risk countries – such as restaurants as part of a nationwide lockdown to Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore – will be force social distancing. required to undergo high intensity screening; Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Nation,” Fauci said • All travellers who have entered South Africa he has already posed the idea to the Trump from high-risk countries since mid-February will administration and gotten a favorable response. be required to present themselves for testing; His suggestion is already getting traction at the state • Surveillance, screening and testing measures at and local level. This afternoon Ohio ordered all OR Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka restaurants and bars to close indefinitely as of 9 p.m. International Airports will be strengthened; tonight. Gov. Michael DeWine said the measure was • South Africa has 72 ports of entry in the country necessary because partyers are continuing to flock which are land, sea and air ports. Of the 53 land to bars and restaurants, despite warnings to avoid ports, 35 will be shut down with effect from social contact. Monday 16 March. Two of the eight sea ports simultaneously ordered all restaurants and will be closed for passengers and crew changes; bars to cease hosting dine-in customers at the • Effective immediately, all non-essential travel for conclusion of Monday's last shift. Curbside pickup all spheres of government outside of the and drive-thru service will continue to be permitted. Republic is prohibited. All non-essential Like DeWine, Illinois Gov. Jay Pritzker said the step domestic travel, particularly by air, rail, taxis and is necessary to keep St. Patty's Day revelers from bus are discouraged; congregating. The suspension of dining-room • Gatherings of more than 100 people will be service will run at least until March 30. prohibited; Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vazquez today directed all • Where small gatherings are unavoidable, establishments that sell alcohol to shut down daily organisers will need to put in place stringent as of 6 p.m. to promote social distancing. measures of prevention and control; Restaurants are believed to be exempted from the broad shutdown of most businesses on the island. • Schools will be closed from Wednesday, 18 Vazquez also set a daily curfew of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. March, and will remain closed until after the for all residents. Easter weekend. To compensate, the mid-year school holidays will be shortened by a week. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo today advised restaurants, bars and other businesses via a tweet There have been 169,610 reported cases of the to “aggressively consider voluntary closings," and coronavirus worldwide as of 07h20 on Monday (16 warned, "if businesses don't voluntarily cooperate, March). Of these 84,294 are ‘closed cases’ with we will consider mandatory measures." 77,776 reported recoveries and 6,518 reported deaths. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called on the closure of all bars and wineries but stopped short of closing restaurants, instead directing that they cut their INDUSTRY NEWS capacities in half and focus on "social distancing." Federal Disease Chief Urges a Shutdown of Later on Sunday, Massachusetts and Washington Restaurants joined the fray, with both states saying they planned The government's leading expert on COVID-19 to ban dine-in service at restaurants and bars. New recommended a two-week lockdown as states and cities York City also said it would order dine-in service to followed suit. end. Restaurant Business The New Jersey city of Hoboken banned dine-in By Peter Romeo restaurant service Saturday, limiting eating places March 15, 2020 there to takeout and delivery. Mayor Ravi Bhalla 9 ordered bars there to suspend service indefinitely. The CDC on Sunday later said it recommended that New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy alerted residents of any gatherings of 50 or more people should be the whole state to expect "more draconian steps" in canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks. short order.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot imposed a three-day Wine counterfeiters beware capacity cap on all business establishments that sell Blockchain solution promises cure for $70 billion liquor. Her office announced that the Chicago Police hangover. Department and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection are enforcing a directive Cosmos Magazine that drinking places halve their capacity, with a By Neil Dowling maximum of 100 customers allowed inside at any March 15, 2020 given time. The measure also prohibits bars, taverns Global wine counterfeiting has become a massive and other places selling liquor to have customers headache that is leaving wine producers and their queue up outside while awaiting admission. multi-national supply chain with an estimated $70 billion hangover as it eats into the $350 billion In Washington, bars and restaurants have been market. given new restrictions on their seating. Bar seating has been suspended, and no more than six patrons Until now, cracking that theft has been complex, can be seated at any table. Patrons can no longer time-consuming, expensive and produced limited stand to eat or drink. And all tables must be at least results. six feet apart. No more than 250 patrons can be The solution could be Cellr, a blockchain system inside an establishment at any given time. developed by two West Australians that is The neighboring state of Virginia subsequently embedded in the wine bottle cap and allows wine capped all gatherings at 100 people. buyers to verify that the product is authentic and has not been tampered with or substituted. Restaurants and bars in South Boston are to be closed today after photos of long lines outside of Co-founder of Cellr, Chris Braine, who developed bars this weekend drew the ire of local officials the system using Near Field Communication (NFC) there, according to the Boston Globe. and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) with business partner Michael Mickel, says the wine New York City lawmakers have asked Mayor Bill Di industry was well placed to benefit from the Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to shut down all invention. restaurants and bars within their jurisdictions. The governor responded with a tweet: "STAY HOME." But it’s not the only industry or product in Cellr’s target, with applications now being developed for The comments from Fauci, the director of the the honey industry and in the future, for National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, applications in authentic merchandising, followed lockdowns of all but essential businesses in automotive parts, handbags, perfumes, therapeutic France and Spain over the weekend. Restaurants goods and the dairy industry, especially in verifying were included in those forced shutdowns. the authenticity of baby formula. Fauci said those forced closings were instrumental As far as grape nectar goes, Braine says, “It’s a in helping China combat the spread of COVID-19 and massive problem that affects around 20% of the slow the incidences of new infections. world’s wine production.” The epidemiologist made the rounds of the Sunday “We wanted to find a solution to help the producers, talk shows to air his recommendation. Almost so we created a unique packaging system that simultaneously, the Centers for Disease Control and allows wineries to produce digital birth certificates Infection advised all citizens aged 60 or older or for their wines on the production line at high speed. suffering from serious chronic illnesses to start preparing for a two-week national lockdown. “Some of these lines run at 18,000 to 45,000 bottles an hour and our technology allows us to create a unique certificate for each of those products that is 10

then resurfaceable anywhere, anytime around the finished out trials, it was 28 minutes to do all that world via the mobile phone.” work. The workings of Cellr revolve around radio “The cellars hinted that putting all the tags on was a frequency (RFID) technology embedded in two chips bit of a pain and they were clunky in the shop, so we in the bottle screw cap - or, depending on the thought about building the tags into the cap. During bottling process, cork - that is encoded and then that we researched and found counterfeit wine was placed into the producer’s bottling line. huge.” The chips are passive as they have no power system. Braine says counterfeiting of wines in Australia is They wait for a mobile phone with a specific Cellr “not announced because the industry doesn’t want app to activate the message within each bottle cap. consumers to be aware of it.” Braine says the chips have a long life, are durable “The reason for this secrecy is there is no solution,” and accurate. he explains. “So we are here to tell the world there is a solution and we can start to work together on Because the chips are read via a mobile phone app, this.” they can contain messages for the viewer including competitions from the wine company, messages or In Braine’s research, he found one significant report information about the winery, tips on wine storage on wine forfeiting in the world from international and discounts and benefits that directly improve consultancy firm Ernst & Young that came out of customer engagement. Italy. “Some of the older tagging systems we originally “This was done about three years ago and identified looked at may have a 15-20-year life span but that’s the market and showed that legitimate producers based on a lot of scans,” he says. were losing around Euro2 billion (about $A4 billion) a year because of counterfeiting and substitution of “We are working with NXP which is the biggest chip wine,” he says. manufacturer in the world and it has a new DNA tags which allow us to run a different layer of security “The French market was bigger but it wasn’t and extend the lifespan even further.” researched, and the US market is also pretty significant. The majority of the wine is going into The bottle caps have a second, perhaps more vital China.” role – they trigger a message if the cap is opened or perforated. This is announced with a notice on the The types of tampering range from refilling with app and tells the prospective buyer – or security diluted or substitute wine, to fake labels and fake agent – that a breach has occurred. bottles that are pushed into the supply chain, Braine says. The price is expected to be from five to 10 cents a cap – a figure than Braine says he would almost be “As an example, in the south of France there was a happy to waive just to get the product into the case recently where 10 million litres of (grape) juice global market and prevent tampering. was driven across the border from Spain, bottled under a premium label and sold off at a premium The idea came while the pair were working on an price point.” inventory system for wine cellars and retailers. “There was also a case in Australia last year where “We were working on counting 20,000-30,000 50,000 cases of the wine was found in a Chinese bottles a month which used the RF technology for its warehouse waiting for substitution into the supply inventory management and that was by using tags chain. that you’d physically put over the bottles,” Braine says. “As the wine goes into the market, it becomes murky and no-one really has any data about it and “One of the beta trials we worked with was how it gets swapped before continuing on its spending 10 hours a month counting their stock and journey to sale. the discrepancy count was huge so by the time we 11

“In November last year we looked at supply chains Craftswomen Field Report: We Drank Limited- and there is a clean line though some but the Asian Edition Whiskies So You Didn’t Have To markets have ghost suppliers listed. Event Marketer “It’s very difficult to check. We are helping by Kait Shea producers get data so we can track for them where March 16, 2020 the wine is going. Now we can identify it right down In some ways, International Women’s Day (this year, to a bottle travelling through a container and to the March 8) has become a revolving door for brand boxes and to the retail shelves.” gimmicks. Fortunately, some companies just get it, It’s not only wine. In the alcohol industry, Braine and find ways to deliver meaningful campaigns that says the spirits market is just as big in terms of actually resonate with women. Johnnie Walker and counterfeiting and tampering. Bulleit Bourbon are two such brands, and we got to experience their new, female-forward Craftswomen “The last data we saw was that about 25 per cent of campaign at an intimate sampling event on March the whiskey from the distillers was subject to 2. The experience wasn’t built for IWD per se, but its tampering,” he says. timing was right on the money and the allure of free, “These thefts are coming very close to the source premium booze was too good to pass up. So we and not at the point of contact with the consumer. hopped a train and headed for the oh-so-gorgeous It is substituted stock.” High Line Hotel in New York City. From wine, the business intends to move to the Coinciding with the launch of the Craftswomen honey industry where it has sparked a lot of interest campaign was the unveiling of two new limited- following sugar substitution. edition whiskies from Diageo, the parent company of both brands, which will hit shelves this spring. The “We are in talks with the honey industry now,” exclusive libations served as the centerpiece of our Braine says. multisensory experience and included a new “Other industries include maple syrup. This is iteration of Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker (the governed quite strictly in Quebec but there are original was introduced in 2018) from master cases including $C35 million of maple syrup stolen blender Emma Walker, and the Bulleit Blenders’ from a warehouse. Select No. 001 developed by blender Eboni Major. “The thieves then cut the syrup down and add Both blends showcased the skill and creativity thinners to it. That amount can double or triple the necessary to produce best-in-class quantity of syrup - and the financial return - very and bourbon (and just how badass these female quickly. blenders are). “Then we have tobacco - there’s a massive issue The experience began with some cocktails and light with that - then there’s conversation now with the apps in a small room featuring a bottle installation. dairy industry for baby formula, for example, where Next, we moved over to our portfolio tasting with lives are dependent on quality and authenticity. Emma Walker. Tables covered in burlap with individual place settings featured four samples of “I also know original parts is a big target for the auto whisky accompanied by their names, a branded pad market, including substitution such as incorporating for taking notes, and a glass of water—this one was wood fibres for use in brake pads, then there’s a life saver. A Scotland native, Walker (the name is a substituted oils, and so on. coincidence) kicked things off by offering up a bit of “I’m a big sports fan and I can see benefits for the her career history, including her background as a authentic memorabilia market, along with chemist, and a taste of how her Jane Walker blend handbags, perfumes and therapeutic goods, was made. Walker’s passion for the industry especially TGA-approved goods.” couldn’t be more apparent as she talked about all of the subtle notes that make up a top-notch whisky. She also discussed Johnnie Walker’s broad efforts to create more inclusive marketing campaigns. 12

One of the key messages we picked up on during Craftswomen near and far, we salute you. Cheers. Walker’s remarks came in response to a question Agencies: Taylor Strategy; Proof; Hunter Public about whether she tried developing a lighter taste Relations. for her Jane Walker blend to appeal to women’s palettes. The answer? Craftswomen is about the accomplishments of female blenders, meaning the Coronavirus Has Whisky Lovers Facing Bans On whiskies on offer were made by women, not Distillery Tours & Festivals necessarily for them. WhiskyCast Next, we began our portfolio sampling. One by one, By Mark Gillespie Walker explained what the varietal was comprised March 15, 2020 of and which notes we should have been smelling or As the impact of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus tasting. We’re not huge Scotch drinkers, but we just pandemic spreads, more whisky events are being may have been won over by the Clynelish 14-year- cancelled or postponed and the list of distilleries old. The other whiskies on hand for sampling: the temporarily halting public tours and closing visitors Cardhu 12-Year-Old, the Cardhu Gold Reserve and centers is growing – with more expected in the Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker Black Label. coming days. A little tipsy by default, we then headed to our This could be a critical week for whisky lovers blending lab with Bulleit’s Eboni Major. There, we planning to attend the upcoming major spring encountered the same rustic vibe as well as whisky festivals in Scotland, where Scottish officials individual set-ups, each including beakers, test will release more details Monday on their plan to tubes, a note pad, a sample of Bulleit, four ban large public gatherings. The Spirit of Speyside maturates (specific types of whiskey that have been Festival and the Islay Festival of Malt & Music both matured in a barrel), water and an empty glass. attract thousands of international visitors each year, Major walked us through a day in the life of a Bulleit and organizers of both events are waiting for blender, including the painstaking efforts she takes guidance from the government while stressing that to avoid smelling or tasting anything other than they hope to be able to present their events as what’s required of her at work—including eating scheduled. bland, odor-free foods for both breakfast and lunch every day. Hello, dedication. In addition, Universal Whisky Experience founder Mahesh Patel announced Sunday night that The Major also opened up the floor to questions. When Nth, his high-roller whisky and spirits show we asked what it was like being a woman in a male- scheduled for next month at the Wynn Las Vegas dominated industry, she said she’d been a leader resort, is being cancelled. While Nevada officials since childhood, but later got choked up talking have not yet moved to limit public gatherings, Wynn about the strides she had made as a female at Resorts executives decided voluntarily to cancel Bulleit. large entertainment gatherings for the immediate For the blending portion of the experience, we were future. The show will be rescheduled for April 23-24, on our own, tasked with concocting our very own 2021, and existing 2020 tickets will be honored for Bulleit Bourbon product. It wasn’t easy. In fact, the the 2021 event. Wynn will issue refunds for deposits more we added to our blend, the more we realized on hotel room reservations for this year’s event. just how tough of a job blenders have. Our final Diageo is keeping the visitors centers at 12 of its product was essentially gasoline, but hey, we’re not distilleries in Scotland open for now. An Edinburgh- the experts. based Diageo spokesman confirmed the decision The event wrapped with a spirits industry panel Sunday in an email to WhiskyCast, while featuring Major, Walker, Speedrack co-founder emphasizing that the decision remains “under Lynette Marrero, 2019 U.S. Bartender of the Year continual review,” and additional sanitation Katie Renshaw and Kerry Diamond, editorial measures are in place at all facilities. director of foodie magazine Cherry Bombe. Friday, the world’s largest spirits producer closed its distillery visitor experiences in Kentucky and 13

Tennessee until further notice. The move affects the officials imposed a ban on events with more than Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville, Kentucky and the 500 attendees. Organizers are hoping to reschedule Stitzel-Weller Distillery in the Louisville suburb of the festival for later this year, but are offering full Shively, along with the George Dickel visitors center refunds to ticket holders. at Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. in Tullahoma, The list of cancellations and postponements for Tennessee. Tours at the Roe & Co. Distillery and the upcoming events also includes the Whisky Festival Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland have also Noord Nederland in the Netherlands, along with been shut down until at least March 29 in line with Whiskies of the World U.S. events in San Jose, San government restrictions Francisco, and Nashville. The main tasting event for Pernod Ricard’s Corby Spirit & Wine unit decided the BC Distilled festival in Vancouver, British Sunday to close its J.P. Wiser’s Experience brand Columbia April 4 has been cancelled, but organizers home at the Hiram Walker Distillery in Windsor, are moving forward with smaller satellite tastings. Ontario until April 3. The distillery will continue to The coronavirus pandemic has had no apparent operate as usual, and direct-to-consumer online impact on whisky production, and distillers are sales will still be available to Ontario residents. trying to keep it that way by minimizing contact Whisky Advocate magazine has rescheduled its between distillery workers and the public. annual WhiskyFest Chicago event from the original Beam is ending tours and closing visitors date of March 27 to December 11, one week after centers at all of its facilities worldwide starting WhiskyFest San Francisco. The decision came after Monday, including the Jim Beam American Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker ordered a 30-day Stillhouse and Maker’s Mark Distillery in Kentucky, statewide ban on events with more than 1,000 the Laphroaig, Bowmore, and Glen Garioch attendees. Tickets purchased for the March event distilleries in Scotland, and Ireland’s Kilbeggan will be honored on the rescheduled date. Distillery. Paragraph Publishing has postponed this week’s Heaven Hill has shut down its Bourbon Heritage Whisky Live in Tel Aviv, Israel until a May date to be Center in Bardstown, Kentucky and the Evan determined. However, plans are still in place to go Willians Bourbon Experience in Louisville until forward with Whisky Live London March 27 and 28, further notice, as has Campari’s Wild Turkey along with the Whisky Magazine awards dinner on Distillery in Lawrenceburg. In a statement, Campari March 26, with the guidance that “we are closely executives stressed the need to protect distillery monitoring UK government advice on the staff and consumers alike. coronavirus outbreak, which is currently that people should go about their business as usual.” This week’s “While the Visitor Center will be closed, our distillery Whiskey and Barrel Nite event in New York City has remains operational, and we shall continue also been postponed, with a date to be announced operating at a normal production rate. Accordingly, in the near future. all spirits produced and bottled at the Wild Turkey Distillery will continue to meet our high standards of The American Distilling Institute postponed its 2020 safety.” convention in New Orleans after Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed an order Friday banning Campari is also closing its visitors centers at Glen public gatherings of more than 250 people through Grant Distillery in Glenrothes, Scotland and the April 13. The ADI conference was scheduled for April Forty Creek Distillery in Grimsby, Ontario for at least 6-8 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. ADI two weeks, along with other Campari brand homes President Bill Owens said in a statement that plans worldwide. for rescheduling the conference will be announced Four Roses Distillery has suspend tours and closed this week. That came a day after the American Craft its gift shops through at least March 29 at the Spirits Association announced the postponement of distillery in Lawrenceburg and the its annual conference in Portland, Oregon. maturation/bottling complex in Cox’s Creek, This weekend’s Trondheim Whisky Festival in Kentucky. Visitors with pre-purchased tours during Trondheim, Norway, was cancelled after Norwegian 14 the shutdown will be contacted and issued full (CN) – New research released Sunday finds that refunds, according to a Four Roses spokesperson. drivers with blood alcohol concentrations below the legal limit still accounted for 15% of all alcohol- Michter’s is suspending tours at its main distillery in involved crash deaths in the U.S., suggesting that the Louisville and the Fort Nelson microdistillery on current limit still allows for impaired driving. Louisville’s downtown “Whiskey Row” until at least April 1, according to Michter’s president Joseph A new study published in the American Journal of Magliocco, and Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville Preventive Medicine discovered that 55% of such has cancelled tours and events through the end of deaths were made up of people other than the March. drinking driver. The crashes are also more likely to have youth fatalities compared to crashes where the California’s Sonoma Distilling Company also said driver’s BAC was above the legal limit. Friday evening on its Instagram feed that its tasting room in Rohnert Park will be closed until further “Our study challenges the popular misconception notice “in an abundance of caution and in respectful that alcohol-involved crashes primarily affect support of community well being.” drinking drivers, or that BACs below the legal limit don’t matter,” said lead investigator Dr. Timothy William Grant & Sons has extended its closing of Naimi of Boston Medical Center. visitor operations at the Glenfiddich and Balvenie distilleries in Scotland to include Tullamore D.E.W in Although the legal BAC limit stands at 0.08%, Ireland and all of its facilities worldwide. cognitive impairment can start at 0.03%, the study authors said. Brown-Forman is now doing the same, adding the GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh The research team examined sixteen years of distilleries in Scotland, Slane Distillery located at national vehicle crash data and discovered that from Ireland’s Slane Castle, and the Brown-Forman 2000 to 2015, 37% of more than 600,000 deaths Cooperage in Louisville to previously announced involved a drunk driver. Of those cases, 15% closings of visitors centers and tours at Jack Daniel involved drinking drivers who tested below the legal Distillery in Tennessee, along with the Woodford alcohol limit. Reserve and Old Forester distilleries in Kentucky. The study also found that those areas with stricter Whyte & Mackay has extended its cancellation of BAC limits had a 9% decrease in crashes that tours at The Dalmore and Jura distilleries in Scotland involved alcohol below the legal limit. was the to May 1 after originally cancelling them through first state to lower the legal BAC limit to 0.05% in March. A company spokesman told WhiskyCast in 2018, the limit recommended by the National an email that the gift shops at both distilleries will Transportation Safety Board. remain open during the period. Inver House has “Policies restricting impaired driving increase closed its Balblair, Old Pulteney, Knockdhu (anCnoc), freedom from worry of injury or death for the and Balmenach (Caorunn ) distilleries in Scotland majority of people on public roadways who are not to visitors. drinking,” said lead author Marlene Lira of Boston WhiskyCast has reached out to all major whisky Medical Center. companies to get updates on the status of their The study recommends policy approaches that can operations, and will update our coverage as we help reduce deaths, including limited alcohol receive details. availabilty at grocery stores and increased alcohol taxes. DAILY NEWS “Lower alcohol crashes have been underestimated Study Finds Legal Drinking Limit May Not Be Low as a public health problem. Our research suggests Enough that stringent alcohol policies reduce the likelihood of fatal accidents involving drivers with all levels of Courthouse News Service alcohol blood concentration,” Naimi said. By Jon Parton March 15, 2020 15

Why you should STOP 'stockpiling' booze: How How does alcohol impact the immune system? drinking alcohol will impact your immunity and • Excessive alcohol intake can harm the body's leave you at higher risk of catching coronavirus immune system in two ways. Daily Mail • First, it produces an overall nutritional March 16, 2020 deficiency, depriving the body of valuable Grocery essentials like toilet paper and long-life immune-boosting nutrients. food are not the only items being snapped up in • Second, alcohol, like sugar, consumed in excess panic buying sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, can reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs. with alcoholic drinks also being snapped up by those • High doses of alcohol suppress the ability of the fearing a long period of enforced isolation. white blood cells to multiply, inhibit the action of killer white cells on cancer cells, and lessen the But stockpiling alcohol might be a bad idea, cording ability of macrophages to produce tumor to health experts who say that drinking depletes the necrosis factors. body's immune capacity. • One drink (which is the equivalent of 12 ounces One study from the University of Maryland and of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 ounces of hard Loyola University found that a single episode of liquor) does not appear to bother the immune binge drinking significantly weakens the body's system, but three or more drinks do. immune system. • Damage to the immune system increases in proportion to the quantity of alcohol consumed. Scientists gave four or five shots of to 15 • healthy male and female volunteers with an average *Amounts of alcohol that are enough to cause age of 27. intoxication are also enough to suppress immunity. Blood tests after 20 minutes showed that their immune system initially ramped up but the levels of Source: Ask Dr Sears infection-fighting white blood cells had plummeted when they tested them again after two hours and Emergen-C warns against making "Quarintinis" five hours. WVLT 8 There were also higher levels of a type of protein March 15, 2020 called cytokines that tell the immune system to become less active. KNXOVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) During the spread of the Coronavirus, some are trying to get creative when it As well as an increased likelihood of sickness due to comes to staying healthy. a dampened immune system, alcohol consumption can also contribute to poor sleep and increased A popular vitamin supplement is warning its blood sugar levels. customers not to mix their product with alcohol. Many people are mixing Emergen-C packets with 'The worst part, in my opinion, is that alcohol alcohol, and calling with drink a "Quarintini". basically depresses the nervous system,' Australian personal trainer and lifestyle and nutrition coach, Some are even posting their concoctions online. Sarah Hopkins, told FEMAIL. Emergen-C has been tweeting back at customers saying, "We do not recommend taking any of our 'Afterwards the body will give you a shot of products with alcohol." adrenaline and cortisol to wake the body up - it's called the neurological rebound effect. 'We are totally dis-regulating our sleep cycle for that Bar Closures and Restaurant Restrictions to Take night and completely suppressing all that magical Place Across the U.S. Due to Coronavirus Outbreak melatonin that we need.' Yahoo! Good quality sleep is one thing experts recommend By Claudia Harmata to ward off the risk of getting coronavirus, and March 15, 2020 drinking reduces the chance of proper rest. 16

As the continues to tackle the ongoing respond with wartime mentality,” he said. “We will coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many restaurants come through this, but until we do, we must make and bars will be faced with unprecedented whatever sacrifices necessary to help our fellow precautionary measures. New Yorkers.” As of March 15, Ohio, Illinois, California and Ohio Massachusetts issued orders and recommendations Gov. Mike DeWine made the announcement on to close certain gathering places in an effort to Twitter, writing, “We will be issuing an order closing encourage social distancing and combat the spread all bars and restaurants in #Ohio beginning at 9:00 of the virus. tonight. Establishments can stay open for carry-out Additionally, popular coffee retailer Starbucks and delivery. What we can’t have is people announced Sunday that they would only be allowing congregating and seated.” a “to go” model in its U.S. and Canadian locations for “I’m aware that this will impact many, many good at least two weeks to help contain the coronavirus, workers. I can’t tell you how sorry I am, but we will according to a company news release. work to mitigate the suffering. It is our goal for “As we all know, the situation with COVID-19 is everyone to get through this,” he added in a follow- extremely dynamic and we will continue to review up tweet. “Every day we delay, more people will die. the facts and science and make the proactive If we do not act and get some distance between decisions necessary to protect our partners, people, our healthcare system in #Ohio will not hold customers and communities,” Rossann Williams, an up. The loss won’t only be those impacted by executive vice president and head of US retail #COVID19, but the danger is also to everyone else operations for the coffee chain, wrote. who needs hospital care for other issues.” Below are the declarations by politicians of specific Washington State states: Gov. Jay Inslee announced restaurants, bars and New York entertainment/recreational facilities statewide will “temporarily shut down” starting March 16. Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered all restaurants in the city to only be takeout or delivery starting the “Restaurants will be allowed to provide take-out morning of March 17 due to the outbreak. and delivery services but no in-person dining will be permitted,” he said. “The ban will not apply to “Our lives are all changing in ways that were grocery stores and pharmacies. Other retail outlets unimaginable just a week ago. We are taking a series will have reduced occupancy.” of actions that we never would have taken otherwise in an effort to save the lives of loved ones Illinois and our neighbors. Now it is time to take yet another Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state would be asking bars drastic step,” de Blasio said on Sunday. “The virus and restaurants to close to dine-in customers by the can spread rapidly through the close interactions end of Monday until March 30. New Yorkers have in restaurants, bars and places where we sit close together. We have to break that “We are working with restaurant owners and food cycle.” delivery services across the state to see if restaurants can safely keep their kitchens open, so He also said he plans to “sign an Executive Order the restaurants can continue food delivery to people limiting restaurants, bars and cafés to food take-out at their homes,” Pritzker said at a news conference and delivery” on March 16. “Nightclubs, movie Sunday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times theaters, small theater houses and concert venues must all close,” de Blasio said. “The time for persuasion and public appeals is over. The time for action is here,” he added. “This is not a “This is not a decision I make lightly. These places joke. No one is immune to this, and you have an are part of the heart and soul of our city. They are obligation to act in the best interests of all the part of what it means to be a New Yorker. But our people of this state.” city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must 17

California Fort Lauderdale’s rules are in effect now through April 12, the outlet reported. Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a press conference on Sunday evening that all bars, nightclubs, wineries This move by these four states and retailers — and and brewpubs will be closed “for now,” according to potentially many more in the coming days — is in an CNN. effort to promote social distancing, which health officials are saying can be the key to squashing the Meanwhile, he advised restaurants to space tables spread of the virus. approximately six feet apart and reduce capacities by half, also stating that restaurants should stay “This ought to be top of mind for people over 60, open to provide food for delivery to those who are and those with underlying health problems, such as unable to access grocery stores or prepare food for heart or lung disease, diabetes or compromised themselves. immune systems,” Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University professor and longtime Newsom also asked Californians over the age of 65 adviser to the CDC, told CNN last week. to isolate themselves from others, the Los Angeles Times reported. “The single most important thing you can do to avoid the virus is to reduce your face to face contact Massachusetts with people,” he added. Bars and restaurants in South Boston will be closed As of March 15, there have been 3,244 confirmed starting on Sunday. Senator Nick Collins, who cases of coronavirus and 62 deaths in the United represents the city, issued a statement on Twitter States, according to a Johns Hopkins database. Sunday morning. “Good morning, as we are in uncharted waters here and all need to heed the advice of public health Hand Sanitizer, All Gone? These People Give It Away professionals to help stop the spread of COVID19, Distilleries are pitching in during the coronavirus South Boston bars and restaurants will be closed pandemic today as part of a voluntary agreement,” he wrote. Newser “TY Mayor Walsh, my fellow South Boston officials, By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff Licensing Board & license holders for working w us March 15, 2020 & taking these sound proactive measures to protect (NEWSER) – Trying to buy hand sanitizer? Then you the public’s health,” he added. “We are in this know it's increasingly unavailable or overpriced. together &it’s imperative now that we do all that we That's why distilleries across America are cranking can to keep our communities safe.” out their own product during the coronavirus Florida pandemic, CBS News reports. Whether it's the Old Fourth Distillery in Atlanta, the Durham Distillery in The cities of Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale are North Carolina, or the Shine Distillery & Grill in ordering bars and restaurants to close by 10 p.m. Portland, Oregon, they've got enough alcohol to and limit crowds to 250 people, according to the create a potent sanitizing solution. "We just realized Sun-Sentinel. [COVID-19] is gaining momentum, and there needs “We cannot become a petri dish for a very to be help in the community to tamp it down," dangerous virus. Spring break is over. The party is Melissa Katrincic, CEO of Durham Distillery, tells over,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said during a Wine Enthusiast. "We had the resources, and most joint news conference on Sunday. people don't. It's not available in most areas, unless there's a distillery." But their distribution methods “I want to be clear that this is not an overreaction, differ a little. but a way for us to help stop further cases of COVID- 19 in our community. We must all do our part to The Old Fourth Distillery filled up customers' empty save lives. This includes protecting our residents, bottles on Friday, but demand was high and product visitors and our first responders,” Fort Lauderdale ran out. Shine also hands it out free, while Durham Mayor Dean Trantalis said. Distillery is planning to distribute to local businesses. Amass distillery in Los Angeles is selling 18 its "Alcohol-Based Botanic Hand Wash" online, while Psychopomp Microdistillery in Bristol, England, is giving away sanitizer for a donation to help the community. One apparent upside is the scents: Brooklyn's New York Distilling is mixing gin with aloe vera gel to create something that smells like spices, citrus peels, and juniper berries. Public health experts stress that soap and water is the best cleanse, but hand sanitizer with a 60% alcohol- based solution helps too. (One guy bought nearly 18,000 bottles of hand sanitizer.)

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