The National Restaurant Association has disclosed lobbying on a bipartisan congressional bill that would establish federal regulations for hemp-derived THC beverages, as sweeping restrictions on these products are scheduled to take effect in December.
According to a federal lobbying disclosure filed today October 20, the association specifically identified H.R. 10079, the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act, among its lobbying priorities during the third quarter of 2026. The filing also lists broader policies and proposals related to THC beverages, marking the first time the organization has specifically identified the legislation in its quarterly lobbying reports.
The association reported $790,000 in lobbying expenditures between July and September, unchanged from the previous quarter. That amount covers its entire federal lobbying operation, including numerous unrelated tax, labor, immigration and food policy issues, and does not indicate how much was spent specifically on THC beverage legislation.
The Beverage Regulatory Parity Act, introduced August 10 by Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) and Representative Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), would create a regulatory framework allowing qualifying hemp-derived beverages containing up to 5 milligrams of intoxicating THC per serving to remain federally legal. The legislation would establish oversight through the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, require a three-tier distribution system similar to alcohol, prohibit sales to anyone younger than 21 and preserve state authority to impose additional restrictions.
The proposal comes ahead of December 11, when changes to federal hemp law enacted last year are scheduled to take effect. Those changes would exclude finished hemp products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC and other similarly intoxicating cannabinoids per container from the federal definition of hemp, effectively prohibiting many THC beverages currently sold legally.
The National Restaurant Association has previously called on Congress to delay the restrictions for two years while establishing national standards covering age verification, product testing, labeling, dosing and consumer safety. In a June letter to congressional leaders, the organization warned that an outright prohibition would eliminate an emerging revenue opportunity for restaurants.
According to research cited by the association, 5% of restaurants serving alcohol already offer hemp-derived THC beverages, while 26% of all restaurants would consider offering them under a clear regulatory framework. The organization estimates that expanded availability could represent a $1.6 billion annual market opportunity for restaurant operators.
The latest disclosure identifies lobbying activity related to the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act but does not specify whether the association supports every provision of the legislation. The bill remains before the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees.
