If 39 attorneys general get their way, Congress will shut down the intoxicating hemp industry that opened up with the 2018 Farm Bill. In a letter to the Senate Committee on Appropriations last week, the AGs made a play to have the products “taken off the market.”

In today’s Brewbound Insider Newsletter, Insiders are reading the AGs’ claims about “Frankenstein THC products that get adults high.” At Brewbound.com, Insiders are also reading the Coalition of Adult Beverage Alternatives’ response. 

Also today, Insiders are reading about: 

• The Brewers Association’s board election;
• Heineken’s fruity 0.0 line extensions;
• Spirits RTDs’ retail growth;
• Threes’ partnership with St. John’s Athletics;
• And Real American Beer’s new hire.

Insiders also have access to the Brewbound Newsletter Archive, including previous newsletter-exclusive Insider content.

Become a Brewbound Insider today!

Or, be in the know on all food and beverage news from Brewbound, BevNET and NOSH with Insider All Access.

As major retailers Target, Circle K, Total Wine & More and others add intoxicating hemp beverages to their shelves, attorneys general from 37 states and 2 U.S. territories are asking Congress to ban the sale of unregulated, intoxicating THC products and “shut down this industry before it metastasizes further.”

In an October 24 letter from the National Association of Attorneys General to leaders of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the AGs wrote that “bad actors” have “wrongly exploited” an “inadvertent ambiguity” in the 2018 Farm Bill’s definition of hemp that has led to “shelves and display cases in gas stations, convenience stores, and other retail locations throughout our states” being “stocked to the brim with potent, psychoactive THC products – often packaged and sold in ways meant deliberately to appeal to children.” 

“We ask Congress to act decisively to clarify the Farm Bill’s definition of hemp to ensure intoxicating THC products are taken off the market,” they wrote.

Insiders can read more from the AGs’ letter, as well as a response from the chair of the Coalition of Adult Beverage Alternatives.

Submitting a nomination guarantees the brand, product, or person will be considered by our selection committee and included on the published list of nominees. The deadline to submit is this Friday, October 31. Learn more

The Brewers Association (BA) is accepting ballots from voting members through November 19 in its annual board of directors election. Five 3-year terms are open to represent the board’s 3 member classes.

Insiders can read more and see a list of candidates. 

Heineken is building on its 0.0 NA franchise in 2026. The company will add 2 fruit-forward Heineken 0.0 line extensions, as well as Heineken 0.0 Ultimate in more than a dozen markets.

Beginning in Q1 2026, Heineken will add 0.0 flavor extensions: Cold Pressed Lime and Nectarine Juniper.

Insiders can read more about Heineken 0.0’s accelerating trends, as well as check out 8 new ANA offerings. 

One constant in bev-alc’s rollercoaster 2025 has been growth in the spirits-based RTD segment. 

Spirits and cider sales stayed broadly stable in the 2-week period ending October 18, while trends for FMBs and hard seltzer worsened, according to analysis of NIQ data from Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

Anheuser-Busch InBev’s (A-B) Cutwater Spirits, on the other hand, is continuing to expand in dollar sales (+135% 2W, +135.8% 4W) and distribution. Sibling brand Nütrl saw positive but moderate growth (+17.0% 2W, +16.5% 4W).

Insiders can dig into more RTD data.

Brooklyn Brewery has tapped U.S. Beverage (USB) to lead its sales efforts in a new national partnership, the companies announced Monday.

The partnership launches on November 1, according to a press release. No changes are expected for Brooklyn’s existing distributor network, and no equity is changing hands. 

Insiders can read more about the partnership, USB’s other sales and marketing relationships and Brooklyn’s previous foray into a multi-brand sales platform.

At Brewbound Live (Dec. 10-11 in L.A.), access matters and these meetings are built to give you exactly that. Whether you’re exploring new markets, looking to understand what buyers are prioritizing or simply want to get your brand on the radar of key partners, One-to-One meetings at Brewbound Live are a direct line to the people shaping the business.

This year’s meeting hosts include ExtraMile, Top 10, Whole Foods, Breakthru Beverage, Heimark Distributing, and Sunset Distributing.

Meeting spots are limited and slots are already being filled. Register to sign up.

Craving more? 👉 See what Insider members get access to.

Have feedback? 📝 Take the Survey Now >>

Want to share news or tips? ✉️ Submit a press release or reach out to news@brewbound.com.

Interested in other beverage coverage? 👀 Check out the BevNET Daily Briefing covering the broader beverage industry, including energy drinks, cannabis and other non-alcoholic beverages. Want to stick to the hard stuff? Subscribe to our Spirits Newsletter (published every 2 weeks). 

We'll be back in your inbox tomorrow.