20th Anniversary of Granholm: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?

Alcohol beverage regulatory attorney Jason Barker will participate as a panelist at the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA) 2025 Annual Conference in Hawaii. In line with the NCSLA's mission of promoting effective systems of alcohol beverage control policy through education and information-sharing opportunities, the program will explore the evolution of the industry, from seminal court cases to modernized practices and products. Mr. Barker's panel will take place on the second day of the event, where he will re-examine the U.S. Supreme Court's Granholm decision, a landmark ruling now 20 years old. Panelists will explain how post-Granholm case law and legislation are affecting businesses, along with review recent cases involving self-distribution, arbitration clauses and direct shipping prohibitions. The discussion will also cover the various constitutional challenges making their way through state and federal courts pitting the dormant commerce clause against the 21st Amendment, as well as preview pending legislation and predicting what challenges could lie ahead.