If you’re reading this, you probably already know what kombucha is, but you might not know what kombucha is, if you know what I mean. Maybe you were feeling experimental when you first grabbed a bottle of GT’s Trilogy, and perhaps you were intrigued by the curiously tart and fizzy experience it afforded you, but you probably didn’t think too hard about what goes in to making this weirdo beverage in the first place or whether you, yes you, could.
GT Dave backs The Kombucha Act: ‘Legislators understand the logic behind updating the law’ Once the ABV of kombucha exceeds 0.5%, it’s classified as an alcoholic beverage. The KOMBUCHA Act would raise that threshold to 1.25% ABV, enabling brands to sell ‘authentic’ raw kombucha using traditional methods without becoming subject to federal alcohol excise taxes for what is basically a non-intoxicating beverage, argues kombucha market pioneer GT Dave, founder of GT’s Living Foods.
The
KOMBUCHA Act (‘Keeping Our Manufacturers from Being Unfairly taxed while Championing Health Act’ H.R. 2124 / S. 892), which would amend the internal revenue code to ensure kombucha is exempt from excise taxes and other regulations imposed on alcoholic beverages, has been
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The ABV threshold at which kombucha switches from a non-alcoholic beverage to what is effectively beer for tax purposes is currently set at 0.5%. The KOMBUCHA Act, set to be reintroduced to Congress this session, provided the right tax vehicle comes along, would raise that threshold to 1.25% ABV.
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) and Senator Ron Wyden (who is now chair of the Senate Finance Committee), aim to reintroduce
“
The Congressman does plan to re-introduce the legislation this Congress, though exact timing is still to be determined,” said Rep. Blumenauer’s office, while Sen Wyden s office told us:
He is planning to introduce the bill again.
Kombucha, the fermented probiotic tea beverage, a once niche specialty health drink, has now officially gone mainstream. Kombucha Brewers International (KBI), a trade organization for kombucha brewers and consumers, says the kombucha drink category has been on an upward trajectory since 2014.
“Kombucha has grown 30 percent in the natural channel and 50-75 percent in the conventional channel year over year,” says Hannah Crum, founder and president of KBI. “Kombucha is the fastest growing functional beverage category and now [has] more than 1700 commercial brewers worldwide.”
Many people thought the kombucha craze was a simple health trend, but this power drink has proven its staying power. If you are not on the kombucha train, maybe you should hop on. Read on to find out why.