America's Beer Distributors Deliver Choice and Value One Beer at a Time

From imported and domestic, to large and small, thedevelopment and local business groups. Distributors
key players in providing consumers their favorite maltalso support local events such as community
brands are the beer distributors. It's because of themfestivals, sporting events and philanthropies. For
that Americans can enjoy an immense amount ofexample, CITY Beverage-Chicago is the official
choice and variety. According to the National Beerdistributor for big-name events such as the Chicago
Wholesalers Association, beer distributors allowBlues Festival and Taste of Chicago. The distributor
thousands of beer brands - from multinational beershas also been the exclusive distributor for the local
to the smallest local microbrews - equal access to theSouth Side Irish Parade, a community-inspired St.
market. Their work helps to ensure a level playingPatrick's Day celebration for 27 years.
field for large and small brewers.Beer distributors are also an integral part of the
Once a beer leaves the brewery to the time ittransparent chain of custody in the sale of beer,
arrives at the retailer, beer distributors providemaking it easier to enforce state laws and local
transportation, refrigerated storage and preservationordinances. The system also regulates retail sales,
of perishable malt beverages. Distributors maintain aensuring that retailers hold the appropriate licenses,
fleet of trucks and employ numerous employees.do not sell to those under the legal drinking age, pay
And, it's these employees who help deliver astate and local taxes, and generally comply with state
customized inventory to diversely sized retailersand local alcohol beverage laws. Because distributors
including restaurants, bars and neighborhood stores.retain the ability to monitor the sale of products from
Following delivery, distributors continue to monitorthe time the beer leaves the brewery, until it arrives
retailer shelves to ensure product freshness andat a licensed retail outlet, distributors are often best
integrity of product, disposing of beer reaching itsequipped to collect state taxes. Many states find it
expiration date. This system affords customers andeasier to collect taxes from a limited number of
retailers unparalleled access to a tremendous varietyfederally and state licensed beer distributors than the
of styles and producers of beers. As part of thehundreds or thousands of retail establishments in their
process, distributors also work with state regulatorsstate that sell alcohol products.
to ensure accountability and an orderly marketplace.Fast Facts About Beer Distribution:
In addition to enabling access to a wide variety of1. The nation's 1,908 beer distributors are responsible
beers, the distribution process also makes the mostfor creating more than 92,000 American jobs,
economic sense. Large and small breweries are ablegenerating $7.6 billion in wages and benefits for
to participate. Smaller breweries can grow andemployees.
compete. Furthermore, distributors can help unlock2. Beer distributors offer quality wages and
the market for startup and small beer brands andhealthcare for employees, as well as specialized
other innovative beverages. Because of thetraining for everyone, from truck drivers to their
economic efficiencies of the distribution system,sales team.
retailers are able to offer hundreds of choices at a3. Every dollar spent on beer distribution adds $1.50 in
great value.economic activity - generating .30 cents in federal tax
Beer distributors are also locally invested in theirrevenue and .18 cents in state and local tax revenue.
communities. While they are often closely identified4. Distributors reduce inventory costs for all retailers
with the brands they sell, beer distributors areby managing portfolios of perishable products.
actually small business owners active in economic