LANSING, Mich. - State Senator Tupac A. Hunter’s (D-Detroit) Senate Bill 1351 to amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to permit special licenses to be issued to any organization conducting a beer festival passed through the House of Representatives today with unanimous support. The Senate passed the bill with bipartisan support in June 2008.

“This is a great chance to support these local products and help grow the brewing industry in Michigan,” said Hunter. “By allowing these extra licenses, we are helping promote Michigan’s breweries which in turn benefits Michigan’s economy and tourism.”

Michigan’s brewing industry brings in more than $24 million in wages with a combined economic contribution of more than $133 million. Michigan has 75 breweries, employing thousands of people, ranking them sixth in the nation in total breweries per state.

“Michigan breweries serve as great tourist and travel destinations and cornerstones of downtown life,” said Hunter. “My bill will help expand these events that unite communities as well as showcase these companies.”

This legislation requires that the application for the license only be submitted by a nonprofit organization composed primarily of brewers, microbrewers and brewpubs, and must be for an event whose primary purpose is to showcase beer. The special license also cannot permit more than six events in a calendar year.

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