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In order to perform their jobs effectively, legislators in the nation’s Capitol need to have indepth knowledge of the constituents they represent. NBWA serves as an educator and a facilitator. The Association increased its already strong presence on Capitol Hill in 2006, reaching out to legislators on both sides of the aisle and making sure that the voice of beer distributors was heard loud and clear throughout the halls of Congress.
Putting a STOP to Underage Drinking
 On December 20, 2006, President George W.
Bush signed into law the Sober Truth on Preventing
Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act). The new
law addresses the serious health and safety issues
involved with underage drinking while providing
the necessary tools to government at the federal, state
and local levels to help prevent alcohol consumption
by those who are not of legal drinking age. The
industry collaboration that transformed this legislation
into law and the role multiple federal agencies
will play in its implementation make the STOP Act
a truly groundbreaking accomplishment.
This monumental
victor y was
achieved
through
NBWA’s l eader ship and diligent work with committed legislators and unprecedented cohesiveness with control advocates who have not always shared the same agenda. Specifically, the law establishes a federal coordinating committee to prevent underage drinking and authorizes a national media campaign, new grant programs and research to combat underage drinking. It also acknowledges the important role state-based regulation of alcohol beverages plays in keeping alcohol out of the hands of youth. It stands to help channel federal efforts to combat underage drinking while supporting state efforts to prevent youth access to alcohol. The law will provide each tier of the licensed beverage industry – suppliers, distributors and retailers – with more information and resources to help battle the underage purchase and consumption of
alcohol products.
Working to provide permanent relief from the death tax
The U.S. House of Representatives
was responsive to NBWA
efforts in 2006, passing death
tax relief legislation several
times. On the Senate side,
NBWA worked closely with
Senators Jon Kyl (AZ) and
Blanche Lincoln (AR) to craft
a bill that would provide meaningful
relief for beer distributors
and also garner enough
votes to pass the Senate. Preceding
the vote on the legislation,
NBWA delivered to each
senator on Capitol Hill a bottle
of Blue Moon beer accompanied
by a message urging senators to act on the
“Once in a Blue Moon” opportunity to deliver
small businesses permanent relief from the death
tax.  The effort grabbed the attention of senators
as well as the media, but the bill was ultimately
defeated by a mere four votes. NBWA continues
to work with legislators on ways to provide permanent
relief from this onerous tax.
Ensuring the continuation of LIFO Accounting
In 2006, members of the Senate Finance Committee introduced legislation that would have repealed the Last-In First-Out (LIFO) method of accounting in order to fund a proposal to provide $100 to every American family to pay for the increase in gasoline prices. Because the LIFO method provides the best means of accounting for many beer distributors, NBWA strongly opposed the proposal and successfully prevented its advancement in the Senate.
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16th Annual NBWA/BREWERS Joint Legislative Conference
At the 16th Annual NBWA/BREWERS Joint Legislative Conference, beer distributors met with members of Congress to talk about core distributor issues and state-based alcohol regulation. Nearly 1000 NBWA members from around the country educated their legislators on Capitol Hill about efforts to weaken alcohol regulations and emphasized the importance of the three-tier system, a transparent and accountable system of malt beverage distribution.
Oktoberfest
NBWA’s Oktoberfest celebration on Capitol Hill draws members of Congress and hundreds of congressional staffers each year. Cold brew accompanied by traditional German food and live music is always a favorite for legislators and their staffs – as are the promotional giveaways donated by NBWA members. In 2006, the NBWA officers joined staff at the 14th Annual Oktoberfest which was attended by over 1,000 people including more than 100 members of Congress and hundreds of congressional staff and industry allies.
Taste of the Holidays
NBWA teams up with the Brewers Association each December to treat members of Congress and their staffs to a Taste of the Holidays. The event features beers produced by America’s craft breweries and serves as a festive way to thank those on Capitol Hill for their hard work while educating them about the distribution system and how it provides consumers of legal drinking age a wide choice of many different types and styles of beer. The 2006 event showcased beers produced by craft breweries spanning the country from Virginia to Oregon. More than 20 breweries provided guests a taste of their products which included stouts, lagers, ales, wheat beers and lambics as well as limited-edition winter seasonal brews.
NBWA PAC
Beer distributors know that actions by the government can have a profound effect on their businesses, and it is important for them to be involved in the political process. Fifty-two percent of NBWA member companies strongly support the NBWA Political Action Committee (PAC). During the 2006 election cycle, NBWA PAC raised $3.1 million and was the largest PAC in the licensed beverage industry.
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