Illinois: ILCC Files Emergency Rule Regulating Placement and Display of Co-Branded Alcoholic Beverages in Retail Establishments

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Source: Press Release By: Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton June 11, 2023 Emergency Rule Filed to Prevent Consumer Confusion Between Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages The Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) filed an emergency rule on May 26, 2023, to protect the public from confusion between alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages of the same brand and to…

Bill is introduced to bring down restaurants’ swipe fees

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The bipartisan measure aims to lower the cost by fostering more competition among processors. Source: https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/ June 7, 2023 Restaurants would be able to shop for lower credit-card processing fees under a bipartisan bill that was introduced in both chambers of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday. The measure, the Credit Card Competition Act of 2023,…

Lawmakers Try Again to Curb Visa, Mastercard Fees, With Broader Support

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Sens. Peter Welch and J.D. Vance as well as two additional House Republicans are expected to sign on By AnnaMaria Andriotis Follow June 7, 2023 5:30 am ET   Lawmakers plan to re-up proposed legislation that would give merchants the power to process many Visa V  and Mastercard MA credit cards over different networks. The new bill is expected to be introduced as…

TECHNOLOGY: FTC Order Forces Mastercard to Stop Blocking Use of Competing Payment Networks

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Federal Trade Commission aims to provide merchants more choice in debit-payment networksBy Ann Meyer on May 31, 2023 A Federal Trade Commission order adopted Tuesday compels Mastercard to provide customer information to competing networks and to stop blocking merchants from using the alternative networks to process debit-card payments, the commission said Wednesday. By allowing choice in the marketplace, the…

Chicago – Minimum Wage Increases July 1

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Every July 1, Chicago’s minimum wage increases per the Minimum Wage Ordinance. The Chicago minimum wage is tiered for large businesses with 21 or more employees, and small businesses with 4 to 20 employees. The minimum wage for larger employees increases annually according to the Consumer Price Index or 2.5%, whichever is lower. The minimum…

PANDEMIC COCKTAILS TO-GO GETS EXTENSION IN ILLINOIS

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Illinois was one of 14 states that made it legal for restaurant and bar owners to deliver cocktails or sell them to-go as a survival tactic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. J.B. Pritzker just signed the bill to extend the policy into 2028. Illinois bars and restaurants can continue selling cocktails to-go into 2028 now…

ABL Statement on Reintroduction of the USPS Shipping Equity Act

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ABL Statement on Reintroduction of the USPS Shipping Equity Act May 31, 2023 BETHESDA, MD – American Beverage Licensees (ABL) Executive Director John Bodnovich issued the following statement regarding the reintroduction of the USPS Shipping Equity Act: “Locally licensed beer, wine and spirits retailers, who bear the responsibility of ensuring that alcohol is only…

U.S. C-Store Merchants Call for Action on Swipe Fees

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New Canadian agreements lowering Visa, Mastercard swipe fees 27% take effect this fall. By Ann Meyer on May 25, 2023 While U.S. convenience stores are contending with inflation exacerbated by high credit-card interchange fees, the Canadian government finalized agreements this month with Visa and Mastercard to lower the swipe fees merchants will pay starting this fall. The…