Letter: Give craft brewers shipping privileges

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, folks more than ever recognize the importance of shopping local. That's a good thing for small businesses in suburban Chicago, many of which are still working their way out of the pandemic.

Business at my Lake Zurich craft brewery, Roaring Table, isn't what it was before COVID ravaged the hospitality industry. We're making progress toward pre-COVID revenue, but we're not there yet, and we feel that every day ... especially in this economy.

The holidays will help. Our neighbors in the Northwest suburbs will visit our taproom, and many will purchase our beer as gifts for local friends and family.

But under current Illinois regulations, we won't be able to ship our product to any out-of-town customers. That's because Illinois remains one of the states that prohibits the shipping of craft beer to consumers.

The past three years have shown that consumers want products shipped to their doorsteps. Illinois residents get everything from food to diapers to holiday gifts - even wine - delivered. But craft beer? Off the table.

Direct-to-consumer craft beer shipping would be a boon for Illinois' 300 breweries, helping them add another revenue channel while getting their product in front of more consumers. In this rapidly changing economy, shipping privileges are vital to helping independent breweries compete.

There is a whole country filled with people who could experience our award-winning beer, support our small business and deepen our economic impact in Illinois. We've seen it done safely and successfully in more than a dozen states.

Just when our business slows down in January, lawmakers will have an opportunity to make consumer beer shipping a reality in Illinois, helping local brewers close the lingering revenue gap while making Illinois craft beer accessible to more people.

We hope they take it.

Beth May

Lake Zurich