Deal signs watered down craft breweries bill

ATLANTA (AP) Gov. Nathan Deal has signed a watered down bill allowing craft breweries to let customers take home beer.

The sponsor, Sen. Hunter Hill, R-Atlanta, said today that Deal had signed SB 63, which permits customers to take home more beer from craft breweries, but not as much as the brewers wanted.

At first the bill proposed allowing craft brewers to sell directly to consumers, but that idea didn't go far.

The new law allows breweries to charge for a "tour'' and depending on how much a customer pays, the tour can include beer as a free souvenir, with limits. The limits are 36 ounces of beer to be consumed "on premise'' and up to 72 ounces to take home.

Hill says costs of tours will be up to brewers.