The National Beer Wholesalers Association represents the more than 1,900 beer distributors who work hard to provide America’s beverage to nearly every congressional district in the nation.
America’s beer distributors are family-owned and -operated independent businesses. The average distributorship has 48 employees, maintains an annual sale of $14.1 million and generates an annual payroll of over $1.6 million. Beer distributors add approximately $11.7 billion to the U.S. economy.
The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Federal Alcohol Administration Act established a unique state and federal regulatory system for alcohol beverages. While state laws differ in certain details, they share a common basic framework known as the three tier system of beer distribution.
In the beer industry, brewers and beer importers are known as the supplier tier and are accountable to federal and state regulatory agencies. The suppliers sell their products to beer distributors, each of which holds a federal permit and a state license. Distributors provide customized beer inventory to more than 750,000 state-licensed retail outlets of all types, sizes, and locations throughout the United States. Licensed retailers sell beer to consumers of legal drinking age at convenience or package stores, restaurants, bars, stadiums, and other venues.
In the 109th Congress, NBWA worked hard to pass the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (“STOP Act”), which was signed into law by President Bush on December 20, 2006. This historic piece of legislation addresses youth access to alcohol by recognizing that it is different from other consumer products and emphasizing each state’s primary role in regulating the production, distribution and sale of alcohol within its borders. NBWA applauds the congressional leaders who paved the way for passage of this important legislation and looks forward to the opportunity to work with the leaders of the 110th Congress to implement the directives of this legislation.