Who are beer distributors?

Beer distributors are local family-owned businesses that distribute beer to restaurants, hotels, taverns and other retail outlets throughout the community. Distributors work diligently to promote responsible consumption of their products and give back to their local communities in jobs provided, taxes paid and charities supported. The distributor serves as the middle tier of the three-tier system which is comprised of brewers, distributors and retail outlets.

What benefit does the beer industry provide to the economy?

The beer industry is an important component of the U.S. economy. The U.S. ranks number one in world beer production. More than 90 million Americans of legal drinking age enjoy beer responsibly and in moderation.

The beer industry today includes more than 1,800 brewers and beer importers, 2,200 beer distributors and 560,000 retail establishments. The industry's economic ripple effect benefits packaging manufacturers, shipping companies, agriculture, and other businesses whose livelihood depends on the brewing industry.

Directly and indirectly, the beer industry employs approximately 1.66 million Americans, providing them with $47 billion in wages and benefits. The U.S. Department of Labor found their wages to be among the highest of 350 industries surveyed. The industry provides $27 billion in business, personal and consumption taxes, including $5.1 billion in excise taxes. To learn how the beer industry benefits your state or community, visit http://www.beerservesamerica.org/.

What is the beer industry doing about illegal underage drinking?

Beer distributors are committed to the fight against illegal underage drinking, and sponsor numerous prevention programs. From distributing pamphlets and videos to help parents talk to their children about underage drinking, to providing resources for law enforcement and sponsoring motivational speakers in local schools, the beer industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars every year to eliminate illegal underage purchase and consumption. These programs focus on real solutions, such as increasing the involvement of parents, peers, teachers and community leaders and enforcing existing laws.

Since these programs were initiated, real progress has been documented. According to government data, underage drinking has declined significantly in the past two decades, and currently 83 percent of youth do not drink illegally. Additionally, a 2002 study sponsored by UCLA revealed that beer drinking among college freshmen had declined 37 percent in the last two decades. While we have made significant progress in the fight against underage drinking in the past two decades, there is more work to be done.