What a dynamic year 2006 was for NBWA and the beer industry! America’s beer distributors have a great story to tell, and we took our message to every congressional district and state capitol in the country. The defining moment of 2006 came at the end of the year when President Bush signed the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) into law. To get to that day, NBWA worked tirelessly with industry partners and advocacy groups to successfully guide the bill through Congress and to the White House. The passage of the STOP Act is a tribute to our hard work and dedication to the fight against underage drinking. It is now our duty to work with Congress to implement this landmark legislation. 
    NBWA also continues to face new deregulation challenges in the courts which threaten to change the beer distribution industry as we know it. We must rollup our sleeves and work to re-affirm the importance of state-based alcohol regulation, the 21st Amendment and the three-tier system of beer distribution. It is our job to educate lawmakers, attorneys general, alcohol regulators, the media and the public about the modern distribution system. They need to know how distributors provide the most value and selection to consumers and retailers; how the system provides a regulatory environment that ensures transparency and accountability in alcohol sales; and how the American distribution system allows for each state to have laws that fit its own needs because a “one size fits all” approach to alcohol regulation does not work. 
    The standard for success continues to rise within NBWA. Once again, Political Action Committee contributions have set all time highs. NBWA’s Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, and the 16th Annual Joint NBWA/BREWERS Joint Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., both saw record attendance. NBWA continues to lead the way with distributors, state associations and other groups to fight underage drinking and alcohol abuse. 
    For nearly seven decades NBWA has advocated on behalf of America’s beer distributors, telling our story to government officials, regulators and the public, but without a doubt, 2006 will go down in the history books as one of the strongest years ever.

Best,





Betty Buck
NBWA Chairman of the Board