05/30/2026
775… What is it? It’s the percentage our Liquor Liability insurance costs have increased since 2022. Yes, 775%!
$4,000.00 in 2022, the only quote for 2026 was $37,000.00! Why? What did we do? Nothing, that’s what. No claims, no infractions, no nothing. We are not the only ones. This is not an isolated incident! This is the direct result of short sighted legislation killing an entire industry of small, family owned Breweries, Bars and Tap Rooms.
Some folks will tell you it’s reasonable and liken it to your car insurance. If your car insurance increased 775% in four years, through no fault of your own, would you think it was reasonable? I doubt it. If the legal profession had experienced such an increase, would they just accept it as the cost of doing business? Hell no they wouldn’t!
Creating a mess is one thing. Failing to own it and take real action to fix it is something else entirely. We are tired. We are pi**ed and we need action! We need the law makers that created this mess to own it and fix it! The SC Senate has tried. They put forth a measure that would suspend the Liquor Liability Law for a year, while they went back to the drawing board and worked on a more reasonable solution. While that is not an ideal solution, it would create real relief and give these small businesses some room to breathe. What did the SC House do? So far, not a damn thing!
Meanwhile, family owned businesses continue to close. People that have put their life savings, blood, sweat and tears into a way of life are being cast aside because politicians refuse to take ownership of the mess they created.
The very idea of this country and the revolution that followed,was born in a tavern. Maybe it’s time for another.
