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The strength of state alcohol regulation is the key to a safe and viable system of alcohol control and distribution.
Collaborating with state legislators
In 2006, NBWA significantly increased its involvement in national state legislative organizations, attending meetings of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the Council of State Governments (CSG). Having a strong voice in national state legislative organizations provides distributors with an additional advocacy opportunity and ensures that the important role distributors play in the regulation of alcohol is recognized in policy debates. These organizations also provide distributors with a forum in which to combat deregulation threats.
Partnering with state regulators
Legal challenges in the states provide beer distributors and state regulators with opportunities to join forces and be an effective team in promoting a state’s right to regulate alcohol. In 2006, NBWA increased its involvement with state regulators, participating in events with national state regulatory groups such as the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA) and the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA).
Creating a united front with state distributor organizations
While issues, laws and regulations vary from state to state, all beer distributor advocates share a common purpose: to best represent the needs of beer distributors. NBWA worked closer than ever with state distributor associations in 2006, coordinating efforts, participating in state meetings and providing legal, legislative and public affairs support. NBWA provides state organizations with a clearinghouse to find helpful information and resources and bolsters their efforts to be an information hub for their distributor members.
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Confronting legal challenges
As states continue working to grapple with the 2005 Supreme Court decision in Granholm v. Heald, which reaffirmed the right of states to regulate alcohol beverages within their borders, NBWA continues to assist with beer distributor efforts to meet these challenges and strengthen the three-tier system. In 2006, the Association also helped guide the appellate briefing process in the litigation involving Costco’s complete challenge to Washington’s regulatory structure and 21st Amendment rights. The Association took its legal efforts a step further by reaching out to the National Association of Attorneys General in order to educate them about the importance of state-based alcohol regulation and prepare them for challenges to those regulations.
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