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Hong Kong craft brewers push for on-site tasting licences
Brewery tours are often turned away because many operators hold food factory licences, which can make liquor licensing harder and limits sales on site.
South China Morning Post Economy reports that Hong Kong craft beer manufacturers are pushing for changes to licensing rules after breweries declined requests for on-site tours and tasting sessions, citing the lack of a licence to serve alcohol on the premises.
The outlet says the issue is partly tied to how many small brewers operate inside industrial buildings under food factory licences, a setup that helps them house equipment and control costs but can make it difficult to apply for liquor permits.
According to SCMP Economy, the controversy has prompted calls to review the licensing regime overseen by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to allow limited on-site samples, with industry leaders and a lawmaker arguing it could support Hong Kong’s tourism economy.
Yardley Brothers founder Luke Yardle told the outlet that manufacturing in Hong Kong is not easy, and he described on-site tasting and alcohol sales as a missed opportunity compared with other cities where visitors can tour breweries and buy alcohol on site.