A new state task force will soon begin working on policy for a popular category of alcoholic beverages.

Gov. Kay Ivey last month signed into law a bill authorizing a Mixed Spirit Beverage Task Force, to look at the sale, distribution and taxation of ready-to-drink cocktails, or RTDs.

The task force, to be made up of five lawmakers from each house of the Legislature, have about two months to come up with policy. Final recommendations must be presented by the fifth day of the 2024 legislative session.

State law prohibits spirit-based RTDs from being sold alongside their beer and wine counterparts, even though they have the same or lower alcohol-by-volume content.

In Alabama, beer- and wine-based RTDs can be sold in more than 4,600 locations, including grocery and convenience stores. Advocates say spirit RTDs can only be sold in 980 locations.

The move was hailed by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). Amy Whited, DISCUS’ vice president of state public policy, said spirits consumers deserve a “level playing field.”

“By signing SJR 95, Gov. Ivey has taken the first step in modernizing Alabama’s marketplace and given legislators an opportunity to learn more about the glaring disparities between how beer, wine and spirits RTDs are treated under the law,” Whited said.

Advocates say there are currently 9,500 jobs in the state depending on the spirits industry, generating more than $936 million in state economic activity each year.