The biggest decision I made after college was investing in a home. As a millennial, it was important to purchase a home in a thriving community with active residents who support local products and businesses.
One of the most popular locally made products among millennials is craft alcohol. Craft breweries and distilleries are highly sought after and are often regarded as gathering halls to meet friends and sample the latest blend.
Recently, Georgia’s Department of Revenue issued new regulations which allow breweries to sell facility tours at different price points based on the quality and quantity customers receive as “free souvenirs.” Allowing consumers to purchase alcohol brings new potential for increased revenue and brand recognition, which is a major game changer for the industry.
In the last 20 years, Georgia’s craft alcohol market has grown by 800 percent according to the National Beer Wholesalers Association. And the growth continues with 20 new breweries and distilleries expected to open in 2016. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon to stay competitive. Established distilleries—such as Old Fourth Distillery, the first of its kind to open in Atlanta since Prohibition— are expanding to larger facilities, increasing the amount of liquor they can produce and sell.
All in all, it seems millennials won’t have any problem getting their hands on local craft alcohol; it might be just as easy as going to the farmer’s market.