Image by Chrys Rynearson
Update March 24: The bill has received a "favorable" review by the committee. Coast Brewing is now pushing to get a 2nd and 3rd reading this week and is urging folks to contact their representatives; that contact info is pasted below.
Speaker of the House- Robert W. Harrell, Jr.
District 114 - Charleston & Dorchester Cos.
(803) 734-3125Representative James Merrill-
District 99 - Berkeley & Charleston Cos.
(803) 734-3072Representative William G. “Bill” Herbkersman
District 118 - Beaufort Co.(803) 734-3063Representative Annette D. Young
District 98 - Charleston & Dorchester Cos. Bus.(803) 734-2953Majority Leader Kenneth A. “Kenny” Bingham
District 89 - Lexington Co. (803) 734-3138Representative G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
District 67 - Clarendon & Sumter Cos. (803) 734-3042Representative Daniel P. “Dan” Hamilton
District 20 - Greenville Co. (803) 212-6795Representative Bruce W. Bannister
District 24 - Greenville Co.(803) 734-3009Representative Eric M. Bedingfield
District 28 - Greenville Co.(803) 734-2962Representative Joan B. Brady
District 78 - Richland Co.(803) 734-3027Representative Alan D. Clemmons
District 107 - Horry Co.(803) 734-2994Minority Leader Harry L. Ott, Jr.
District 93 - Calhoun, Lexington & Orangeburg Cos.(803) 734-2998Representative Leonidas E. “Leon” Stavrinakis
District 119 - Charleston Co.(803) 734-3039
Update March 23: From @COASTBrewing:
Can I get a Yea vote for our HB 3693!! Yes, just did. Hope to hit House Floor before Thursday and furloughs. Woot!
Crack a cold (craft) one tonight and get ready for the next charge!
Update March 22: The Judiciary Committee Meeting has now been rescheduled for 2:30 p.m. tomorrow, March 23rd. Keep the support rolling in to those Congressmen, every step in this process is important!
Update March 9: Today's Judiciary Committee Meeting was cancelled, per COAST's Twitter. We'll update you when it's rescheduled.
First reporting: The ongoing saga of fixing S.C.'s antiquated beer laws continues this week, as House Bill 3693, which would allow on-site brewery tastings and sales, and an additional bill for retail tastings, go before the full House Judiciary Committee this Tuesday, March 9th.
The South Carolina Brewer's Association, headed up by Charleston's own Jaime Tenney of COAST Brewing, is once again asking for your help in contacting committee members and showing your support for the bills.
If you love beer, these bills are for you. If you support small, local businesses and want them to thrive, these bills are for you. If you fall into both of those categories, you should already be on the phone.
The easiest way to get in touch with the committee members is via the Judiciary Committee page, which lists all 25 members and links you to their pages. You can message them from their individual pages, but phone calls are especially effective with these guys. Word on the street is you can leave one phone message and have it delivered to all the members, which is quicker than messaging each of them anyway.