Bill would let brewers sell limited amounts of beer on site

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Small Mississippi breweries could sell beer to customers on site under a measure moving forward in the Legislature.

House members voted 93-23 Wednesday to pass House Bill 1322 , sending it to the Senate for more debate.

The measure would let a brewery sell the equivalent of two cases of 12 ounce bottles to a customer in a 24-hour period. Breweries can now give away up to 36 ounces in samples to a customer.

Supporters of the bill say it will help breweries expand their business. Beer wholesalers, who by law control distribution to stores, had opposed a similar measure last year. Rep. Hank Zuber, an Ocean Springs Republican, says wholesalers and breweries worked out an agreement last year.