[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40678-40679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16115]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Docket No. TTB-2021-0007; Notice No. 204]


Promoting Competition in the Beer, Wine, and Spirits Markets

AGENCY: Department of the Treasury; Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade 
Bureau.

ACTION: Request for Information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury is issuing this Request for 
Information (RFI) to solicit input regarding the current market 
structure and conditions of competition in the American markets for 
beer, wine, and spirits, including an assessment of any threats to 
competition and barriers to new entrants.

DATES: Responses should be received by August 18, 2021 to be assured of 
complete consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this proposal to the Department 
of the Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) by 
using one of the following methods:
    Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: You may send comments via the online 
comment form posted with this document within Docket No. TTB-2021-0007 
on ``Regulations.gov,'' the Federal e-rulemaking portal, at https://www.regulations.gov. A direct link to that docket is available under 
Notice No. 204 on the TTB website at https://www.ttb.gov/laws-and-regulations/all-rulemaking. You may attach supplemental files to 
comments submitted via Regulations.gov.
    U.S. Mail: You may send comments via postal mail to the Director, 
Regulations and Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade 
Bureau, 1310 G Street NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005.
    You may submit comments on this proposal as an individual or on 
behalf of a business or other organization. Your comment must reference 
Notice No. 204 and must be submitted or postmarked by the closing date 
shown in the DATES section of this document.

[[Page 40679]]

Confidentiality and Disclosure of Comments

    All submitted comments and attachments are part of the rulemaking 
record and are subject to public disclosure. Do not enclose any 
material in your comments that you consider confidential or that is 
inappropriate for disclosure.
    TTB will post, and you may view, copies of this document, its 
supporting materials, and any comments TTB receives about this proposal 
within the related Regulations.gov docket. In general, TTB will post 
comments as submitted, and it will not redact any identifying or 
contact information from the body of a comment or attachment.
    Please contact TTB's Regulations and Rulings division by email 
using the web form available at https://www.ttb.gov/contact-rrd, or by 
telephone at 202-453-2265, if you have any questions regarding comments 
on this proposal or to request copies of this document, its supporting 
materials, or the comments received in response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hoover, Regulations and 
Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G 
Street NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; 202-453-1039, ext. 135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 9, 2021, President Biden issued an 
Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. E.O. 
14036, 86 FR 36987 (July 14, 2021). Section 5(j) directed the Secretary 
of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the 
Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to submit a report within 
120 days ``assessing the current market structure and conditions of 
competition [for beer, wine, and spirits], including an assessment of 
any threats to competition and barriers to new entrants.'' The report 
is to include discussion of unlawful trade practices; patterns of 
consolidation in production, distribution, or retail markets; and ``any 
unnecessary trade practice regulations of matters such as bottle sizes, 
permitting, or labeling that may unnecessarily inhibit competition.''
    Further, Section 5(k) of the Order directs the Treasury Secretary, 
through the Administrator of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade 
Bureau (TTB), to consider within 240 days rulemaking updating TTB's 
trade practice regulations, revising or rescinding any regulations that 
``unnecessarily inhibit competition,'' and ``reducing any barriers that 
impede market access for smaller and independent brewers, winemakers, 
and distilleries.''
    Consequently, to inform these efforts, we are seeking comment on 
these topics from participants in the beer, wine, and spirits markets, 
consumer groups, public interest groups, and interested private 
parties.

    Dated: July 23, 2021.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax, Trade, and Tariff Policy).
[FR Doc. 2021-16115 Filed 7-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P