America's Beer Distributors

 Chairman Mitch WatkinsWhat a privilege it was for me to stand before America’s beer distributors during the 2009 NBWA Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas as the incoming Chairman of the Board.  I was fortunate to be looking into a room that included not only my wife, mom, sisters, cousins and brothers who are also beer distributors – but also thousands of individuals who are members of the beer family.

In fact, there are 95,000 hardworking men and women who roll up their sleeves every day to drive the beer trucks, pick the customized orders, stock the shelves and answer the phones.  Those men and women earn solid wages and receive good benefits, including health care, because it’s simply the right thing to do. 

One thing I love most about the beer distribution industry is that it is a family business.  Most distributorships are family businesses operated by folks who live right down the road and who grew up in that community.  That’s why it’s so important to them that beer distributors work with local laws to keep communities and citizens safe.

The United States has the most efficient and safest alcohol distribution system in the world for a reason:  the state-based, three-tier system of regulation.  Unfortunately, legal challenges across the country are now threatening the ability of states to effectively regulate alcohol under the 21^st Amendment.

This year, NBWA will continue to reach out to both new and old partners – including suppliers, state regulators, attorneys general, control and public health advocates, distributor advocates and others in the licensed beverage industry – in order to fight attempts to deregulate alcohol and weaken the time-tested alcohol distribution system.

America’s beer distributors are more united than ever, because it’s up to us to keep this effective system going strong in the years ahead!

Sincerely,

Mitch Watkins

Chair, NBWA Board of Directors