Bottle racket: Illinois’ high alcohol taxes blow up cost of Independence Day celebrations

By Vincent Caruso

07/03/2019

Ahead of Independence Day, Illinoisans near the state border exercise their freedom to purchase alcohol in low-tax neighboring states.

TAGS: alcohol tax, liquor laws, taxes

Repeal Day: Illinois’ sobering alcohol taxes, regulations a reminder of Prohibition

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2018

With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. The Land of Lincoln, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, soda tax, taxes

Free beer: How Illinois could become the country’s craft capital

By Austin Berg

08/16/2018

State lawmakers should seize the momentum in Illinois. Let your people brew. And transport. And sell.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, craft beer, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Rauner signs bill lifting restrictions on craft breweries

By Vincent Caruso

08/13/2018

Laws barring taprooms from serving hard cider – and craft beer produced by other breweries – are among the regulations bounced by House Bill 4897.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Bruce Rauner, craft beer, Jason Barickman, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Rauner signs bill relaxing outdated liquor license restrictions

By Joe Barnas

08/03/2018

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 2436 on Aug. 2, a move that will increase local control over liquor licensure.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Bruce Rauner, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Bottle racket: Illinois’ high alcohol taxes boost cost of Independence Day celebrations

By Joe Barnas, Eddie Damstra

07/03/2018

The Land of Lincoln has some of the highest alcohol taxes in the Midwest. And Illinoisans preparing for Independence Day are feeling the pinch.

TAGS: alcohol tax, craft beer, liquor laws, taxes

Bill amending prohibitive liquor licensing law goes to governor’s desk

By Joe Barnas

06/04/2018

The measure would relax statewide restrictions on liquor licensure and encourage local control.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, licensing, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, small business

Belleville City Council to consider fee hikes

By Austin Berg

03/03/2018

Some businesses would see license fees double, among other fee hikes meant to shore up city finances.

TAGS: Belleville, fees, licensing, liquor laws, taxes

General Assembly overrides governor’s veto, granting 1 Chicago business an exemption from state liquor law

By Vincent Caruso

02/14/2018

State lawmakers passed into law a bill that exempts a single Chicago performance hall from a provision in Illinois state liquor law, overriding Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto. This practice of granting piecemeal exemptions is commonplace but cumbersome.

TAGS: John Cullerton, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Interstate shipping ban chills Illinois wine business, ices out wine consumers

By Vincent Caruso

11/30/2017

Prohibition died in 1933, but alcohol-related cronyism is alive and well.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Chicago, liquor laws, regulations

2019 Illinois corruption tracker

Illinois is the second-most corrupt state in the nation, according to the University of Illinois-Chicago. And corruption costs the state economy at least $550 million per year. But the size and scope of government corruption is nothing new for Illinoisans. What is new? Powerful Illinois lawmakers, Chicago aldermen, local mayors and business interests are involved...

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2019 Illinois corruption tracker

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Al Lashbrook

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students