America's Beer Distributors

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 The 2010 Legislative Conference, held April 18 - 21, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, provided a great opportunity for distributors to hear from industry leaders and to educate members of Congress about the importance of effective state-based alcohol regulation and the vital role of beer distributors.  

Distributors were encouraged to bring people from their business who have never been to Washington, D.C. -- such as a longtime truck driver or a stand-out sales representative -- so they could tell their member of Congress about the solid jobs, wages and benefits that beer distributors offer from coast to coast.  More than 750 distributors, including 100 first-time attendees, participated in the Conference – a 30 percent increase over 2009 attendance. 

During meetings with members of Congress and their staff, members of the National Beer Wholesalers Association voiced their support for H.R. 5034, the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act of 2010 or “CARE Act,” which was introduced April 15, 2010, in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC), Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT). 

The CARE Act aims to clarify congressional intent that states have primary authority to regulate alcohol; prevent the additional erosion of state-based alcohol regulation through the expansion of the Granholm v. Heald decision; and clarify that state alcohol laws are presumed to be valid and that plaintiffs should have the burden of proof.  The legislation also preserves state laws that allow direct-to-consumer shipments of wine by specifically prohibiting facial discrimination against out-of-state producers.

In addition to advocating for the time-tested system of state-based alcohol regulation, the Legislative Conference celebrated the 95,000 hard-working men and women who are the faces of the beer distribution industry. 

These faces of the industry ensure that the greatest choice, variety and selection of beer is delivered safely and efficiently to store shelves and bar taps across the country.  Special photo tributes in their honor were placed in Reagan National Airport, the video monitors at Nationals Park, and on the pages of Capitol Hill publications’ Web sites.

The Conference also included the participation of the Beer Institute, the Brewers Association and the National Association of Beverage Importers, who joined NBWA members in support of a collaborative industry agenda – including support for reauthorization of the STOP Underage Drinking Act, tax issues and food safety.

The 2011 Legislative Conference will take place March 27-30, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

For further information, please contact the Membership and Meetings Department at 800-300-6417 or e-mail Coordinator, Member Programs Meredith Daughtridge at mdaughtridge@nbwa.org.