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The Face of the

American BeerIndustry

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Do youknowhow that

ice cold beer youenjoy at the endof a long day, at aball game or with

dinner makes itsway safely to you,the consumer?

The answeris Americas3,300 beer distributors

which employ98,000 people.

Americasindependent beerdistributors arelocal businessesthat operate inevery state andcongressionaldistrict across theUnited States. Theyprovide 98,000solid jobs withgood benefits topeople who live intheir communities.

Beer distributorsdo more than buy,store, sell and deliver beer. They are alsosmall business owners, civic leaders, parents

and philanthropists who are active in theircommunities. Beer distributors play a vitalrole in working to keep the communitieswhere they live and work safe by sponsoringa wide array of programs to promoteresponsible consumption, combat drunkdriving and work to eliminate underagedrinking. Beer distributors also value theirrole in the state-based system of alcoholregulation that works to keep communities

and citizens safe while encouraging healthycompetition and a robust marketplace.

Who Are Americas BeerDistributors?

Beer distributors, licensed by both the federaland state governments, get bottles, cans, casesand kegs from a brewer or importer to the

shelf of your favorite store, local restaurantor neighborhoodbar through a safe,transparent andaccountable system.They work hard tohelp new brands get tomarket and to ensurethat consumers canchoose from a vast

selection of beer. Infact, more than 13,000labels of beer areavailable to Americanconsumers today.

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The Importance of StateAlcohol Regulation

Todays successful system of state-basedalcohol regulation gives each state the abilityto enact and enforce alcohol laws consistentwith the desires and needs of its citizens.Alcohol is not like potato chips or toothpasteand is not regulated the same way as otherproducts. State-based regulation of alcoholallows each state the flexibility to deal withlocal needs, concerns and circumstances.After all, people in Nevada feel verydifferently about alcohol than those inneighboring Utah.

Todays system is rooted in the 21stAmendment which was designed to provideguidance and solutions after the failure of

national Prohibition. The growth in organizedcrime, underground black

markets and consumptionof counterfeit andpoisonous alcoholthat occurred duringProhibition made clearthat a one-size-fits-allapproach to alcohol

regulation does not

work.The 21stAmendment gave

rise to the American three-tier system ofindependent alcohol distribution composedof brewers and importers, distributors andretailers which has effectively balancedcommunity attitudes about alcohol withhealthy marketplace competition and vastconsumer choice for 80 years.

21STAmendment

Passed by Congress February 20, 1933.Ratified December 5, 1933.

Section 1.

The 18tharticle of amendment to the Constitution

of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2.

The transportation or importation into any State,Territory, or Possession of the United States for

delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in

violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3.

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall

have been ratified as an amendment to the

Constitution by conventions in the several

States, as provided in the Constitution, within

seven years from the date of the submission

hereof to the States by the Congress.

State-basedregulation of

alcohol allows eachstate the flexibility todeal with local needs,

concerns andcircumstances.

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alcohol retailers.Distributor serviceslike monitoringretailer shelves, tapsand keg lines toensure consumers arereceiving the freshestproductreduce retaileroperating costs andtranslate into dramaticannual savings forretail outlets across thecountry. Distributorsalso assist retailersthrough point-of-saleadvertising, merchandising and stocking.

Additionally, beer distributors help ensurethat bars, restaurants and stores that sell beer

do so responsibly and only to those of legaldrinking age by routinely providing materialsthat discourage underage sales. Thesematerialslike signs, posters or stickersare often seen on cooler doors and at cashregisters when consumers purchase licensedbeverages.

The National Beer Wholesalers Association

(NBWA) is a trade association that represents

the interests of Americas 3,300 licensed,

independent beer distributors with operations

located in every state and congressional

district across the United States. NBWA

works to strengthen the state-based system

of alcohol regulation that facilitates an orderly

marketplace; creates a transparent and

accountable system of alcohol distribution

that protects American consumers; andpromotes responsibility in the manufacture,

distribution, sale and consumption of alcohol.

The American BeerIndustry at a Glance

3,300 independent

beer distributors

98,000 beer distribution jobs

13,000 labels of beer

available to consumers

2,000 breweries

across the country

548,000 licensed retailers

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National

Beer Wholesalers Association

1101 King Street, Suite 600Alexandria, VA 22314

800-300-6417

www.nbwa.org

Mr. Beer Guy@MrBeerGuy