WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (MO-7) recognized America’s beer distributors, brewers and importers today for their strong economic contributions providing quality jobs, offering health insurance and other company-provided benefits in communities across the nation. Blunt spoke to attendees of the 18^th Annual NBWA/Brewers Joint Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.

“I commend America’s beer distributors, brewers and importers – many of which are multigenerational family-owned and operated businesses – for their efforts in creating jobs across the country and reinvesting in their own companies,” said Representative Blunt.

America’s beer distributors, brewers and importers provide 130,000 hard-working men and women with quality jobs from coast to coast. Job numbers and other economic information from the American beer industry are available by state and congressional district at www.beerservesamerica.org.

“These jobs and economic contributions are generated by the state-based alcohol regulatory system that was established 75 years ago with the passage of the 21^st Amendment which repealed Prohibition,” said Craig Purser, president of the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA).

“The modern three-tier system of alcohol distribution provides American consumers with safe products and the widest variety and selection of beer any where in the world. This is the only system that delivers 13,000 labels of beer to consumers and works to keep communities safe, too,” added Purser.

The first tier of the three-tier system is comprised of brewers and importers that manufacture or import the product into the United States and are subject to licensing requirements. The second tier includes nearly 2,750 beer distributors that hold both a federal permit and state license and sell beer to state-licensed retail outlets. The third tier includes more than 500,000 state-licensed retail outlets. This distribution system maintains a clear chain of custody for alcohol.

Following Blunt’s remarks, representatives from the beer industry met with their respective members of Congress to discuss a variety of economic and regulatory issues including:

- Supporting H Con Res 341 and S Res 551 “Celebrating 75 Years of Successful State-Based Alcohol Regulation”

- Highlighting the unrivaled effectiveness of the United States’ three-tiered alcohol regulatory system for product quality for the American consumer

- Educating members of Congress on public initiatives undertaken by the beer industry encouraging the responsible consumption of alcohol

- Pointing out the disproportionate and unfair burden on consumers from the federal excise tax on beer.