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ABL to Recognize Sazerac CEO Mark Brown with 2018 Top Shelf Award

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Award Will Be Presented at the 16th ABL Annual Meeting in New Orleans

November 27, 2017 – Bethesda, MD – American Beverage Licensees (ABL) is proud to announce Mark Brown, President & CEO of Sazerac Company, Inc., will be recognized with the 2018 ABL Top Shelf Award at ABL’s 16th Annual Meeting on March 12, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The ABL Top Shelf Award, the highest honor presented by America’s beer, wine and spirits retailers, recognizes those who have demonstrated professional excellence in the beverage alcohol industry, and have had a positive influence in their community.

Brown got his start in the beverage alcohol business at a relatively young age when he began working in his family’s pub business in the United Kingdom in 1971.  In 1976, Brown joined British alcohol cider-maker H.P. Bulmer as a salesperson, and by 1978 was Sales Trainer.  He came to the United States in 1980, operating as the U.S. Field Sales Manager for Bulmer. From 1981 to 1992 he served as Director of New Products, National Sales Manager and, eventually, Vice President of Sales and Marketing with Sazerac.

Brown left Sazerac and joined Brown-Forman (no relation) as Senior Vice President and COO of the Select Brands Group for two years.  He then spent the next three years as President of the Advancing Markets Group, before returning to Sazerac in June 1997 in his current role as President & CEO, where the company’s portfolio includes brands such as Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, George T. Stagg, Pappy Van Winkle, Sazerac Rye, and Southern Comfort.

“Mark Brown is synonymous with the beverage alcohol industry – an industry that Mark has been a part of not just professionally for more than 30 years, but really for his entire life,” said ABL President Steve Morris. “ABL is honored to present Mark with the 2018 Top Shelf Award in recognition of his dedication and commitment to the thriving three-tiers of the industry and the community surrounding his adoptive home of New Orleans.”

The ABL Top Shelf Award will be presented at the ABL Honors Gala on March 12, which is part of the 16th ABL Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 11-13, 2018.  For more information about the event or to register, please visit the ABL Annual Meeting website or www.ablusa.org.

 

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American Beverage Licensees is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments.  The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.

2018 ABL Annual Meeting Registration Now Open

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With Theme of “Navigating the Future,” Association’s Signature Event to Feature Presentations from Industry Leaders, Networking Opportunities & Hospitality Events

 

BETHESDA, MD – November 16, 2017 – American Beverage Licensees (ABL) is proud to announce that registration is now open for the 2018 ABL Annual Meeting, to be held March 11-13, 2018 at Harrah’s New Orleans Hotel & Casino in New Orleans, Louisiana. ABL’s signature annual event brings together on- and off-premise beverage licensees to celebrate their important role within the three-tier beverage alcohol industry. Registration is available online for $299, which includes access to all general sessions and ABL hospitality events.

As with previous ABL Annual Meetings, general sessions will provide attendees with the latest information on the beverage alcohol industry from on- and off-premise industry experts. Presentations, briefings and interactive panel discussions will address the alcohol policy environment, product trends and strategies for beverage retailers to improve their businesses. Additional information regarding speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

“ABL is excited to host our 16th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, a city synonymous with beer, wine, spirits and hospitality,” said ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich. “With the theme of ‘Navigating the Future,’ the meeting will provide beverage licensees – both on- and off-premise alike – with informative sessions and take-aways that can be applied directly to their businesses back home.”

In addition to formal education session, the ABL Annual Meeting will include hospitality events designed with networking in mind so that beverage licensees can interact with their peers from across the country, and meet with executives from the distributor and producer tiers of the beverage alcohol industry. As part of the meeting, ABL will host the ABL Honors Gala reception and dinner, celebrating leading beverage retailers with the “Retailer of the Year” awards, and recognizing the 2018 ABL Top Shelf Award honoree.

ABL welcomes a variety of sponsors for the Annual Meeting, which provides brands and companies with a means of maximizing their exposure and sharing their products with leading beverage retailers and state retail trade associations. Sponsorship opportunities are available at a variety of levels and can be customized to fit sponsor goals. More information is available by contacting the ABL office at 301-656-1494.

Please click here to register today! For more information, please visit www.ablusa.org.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Be sure to follow ABL on Facebook and Twitter, and remember to use the hashtags #ABLMeeting18 and #NavigatingTheFuture when posting!

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American Beverage Licensees is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments. The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.

 

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Celebrate Package Liquor Store Month This November

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8th Annual Celebration Recognizes the Role Independent Off-Premise Retailers Have in Job Creation, Product Accessibility & Responsible Policies

 

BETHESDA, MD – October 31, 2017 – This November, American Beverage Licensees (ABL) and licensed beverage alcohol retailers nationwide will join together to celebrate the 8th Annual Package Liquor Store Month and the thousands of local beer, wine and spirits retails that form the vibrant American beverage marketplace.

The month of November kicks off the busy holiday sales season for package stores and is the perfect time to recognize the important role that these small businesses play in their local communities. Through hard work and a focus on the needs of their customers, independent package liquor store owners continue to deliver choice and value for adult consumers across the United States.

“We take great pride in celebrating Package Liquor Store Month and recognizing not only the purveyors of distilled spirits, but all off-premise retailers whose focus is selling beer, wine and spirits,” said ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich. “Whether it’s a traditional package liquor store or a beer-and-wine store, these businesses offer tens of thousands of products; provide hundreds of thousands of jobs; pay millions in taxes and generate billions in economic impact.”

Package stores are some of the last independently-owned businesses on “Main Street” in America’s cities and towns.  They serve as the face of the beverage industry for consumers within the framework of the three-tier system of alcohol suppliers, distributors and retailers. Beverage alcohol brands are built by these businesses, and for many beverage consumers, their local package liquor store introduces them to new styles, flavors and varieties from an ever-evolving beverage industry.  This customer service and education often comes from trusted experts and includes how best to enjoy and share these products responsibly with friends and family.

In many states, legislators and regulators have recognized that the best and safest place to sell distilled spirits is at a licensed package liquor store.  Package store owners appreciate the uniqueness of the products they sell, embracing responsibility and the privileges conferred to them with that license.  Unlike some other industries, brick-and-mortar beverage businesses must abide by their state-specific laws for selling alcohol and are accountable to their state alcohol authorities.  As such, licensees are continuously training themselves and their staff to conduct safe and responsible sales to adult consumers, and are leading the fight to prevent underage access to alcohol.

Across the country, off-premise beverage alcohol retailers also play an important and dynamic role within the greater economy – both at the state and federal levels – with an overall economic impact of $87.9 billion last year.  These retailers further account for more than 531,000 jobs and $33.12 billion in wages and benefits (averaging $39,800 annually) – along with $6.22 billion in state taxes and $7.76 billion in federal taxes.

“Independent package liquor stores are more than just purveyors of beer, wine, and spirits in the neighborhoods where they operate,” said ABL President Steve Morris. “They are also an integral part of their communities providing various forms of support to local events, civic endeavors and charitable organizations and community groups.”

This November, ABL encourages you to show your support for Package Liquor Store Month by posting a picture of your favorite package liquor store to Facebook and/or Twitter using the hashtag #PLSMonth.

 

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American Beverage Licensees is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers.  Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs.  ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments.  The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes.  To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.

Beverage Licensees Support Bipartisan Transparency in Music Licensing and Ownership Act

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Bill Would Establish Digital Database, Bringing Copyright Ownership & Licensing Information to the Public and Stakeholders

July 21, 2017 – Bethesda, MD – American Beverage Licensees (ABL), a national trade association representing nearly 15,000 beverage alcohol retailers, announced its support today for the Transparency in Music Licensing and Ownership Act (H.R. 3350). The bipartisan bill, introduced by Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and cosponsored by Representatives Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Blake Farenthold (R-TX), and Steve Chabot (R-OH), would establish a reliable, unified database of copyright ownership and licensing information for musical works.

“Beverage licensees thank Congressmen Sensenbrenner for his legacy of strong leadership on music licensing issues and his recognition that increasing transparency in the music licensing system benefits licensees and artists alike,” said ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich. “Many bars and taverns obtain licenses so that music can be legally played in their businesses. The database that this bill calls for will provide them with dependable information on which they can make entertainment choices for their businesses.”

Bar and tavern owners, who already operate in the traditionally-regulated beverage alcohol industry, understand the importance of observing laws and regulations, including complying with copyright laws for the public use of musical works. Beverage licensees generally use copyrighted musical works – either via streaming service, jukebox, karaoke, live bands, DJs, or otherwise – by purchasing licenses from performing rights organizations (PROs). Each year, these licensed beverage businesses support songwriters by collectively paying millions of dollars in licensing fees to PROs.

Under the current system, bars and taverns have no verifiable and reliable way to determine which musical work rights belong to each of the PROs. This prevents beverage licensees from making informed business decisions when it comes to purchasing music licenses and knowing what they are getting when they obtain licenses from PROs. This uncertainty can result in protracted disputes between small business owners and PROs. More ominously, it can lead to bars and taverns shutting down live music in their businesses altogether.

The Transparency in Music Licensing and Ownership Act would alleviate this problem through the creation of a public database that identifies entities through which musical works are licensed in a format that reflects current technological practices; is updated on a real-time basis; and is publicly accessible without charge. By establishing the database under the Register of Copyrights, and encouraging rights owners to register their works with the database, this bill will benefit all stakeholders in the music marketplace.

“This is a bipartisan issue, affecting hospitality businesses in every town, city and state across America,” said Bodnovich. “Beverage licensees have been clear that their focus is on bringing transparency to the music licensing process. The Transparency in Music Licensing and Ownership Act is a sensible step toward that goal, and we look forward to working with Congressman Sensenbrenner to advocate for this legislation.”

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About American Beverage Licensees: ABL is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments.  The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.

ABL Applauds Congress for Keeping Pro-Competitive Debit Card Swipe Fee Policy in Place

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June 9, 2017 – Bethesda, MD – American Beverage Licenses (ABL) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for voting to pass the Financial CHOICE Act, which keeps pro-competitive debit card swipe fee policies in place and aids retailers and consumers in the battle against excessive swipe fees.

“On behalf of the nearly 15,000 independent bar, tavern and package store owners ABL represents, I would like to thank members of Congress for their determined efforts during the legislative process to listen to the concerns of the beverage retailer community and support a bill that maintains laws that have helped level the debit card routing market, and takes into account runaway swipe fees,” said ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich.

The Financial CHOICE Act of 2017 (H.R. 10), sponsored by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, was passed by the House on June 8, 2017 with a 233-186 vote. The bill received widespread attention as the initial draft included language that would have repealed the consumer and small business measures included in the Durbin Amendment. Repealing or weakening the swipe fee law would have removed competition from the debit routing market, and eliminated other reforms that have benefitted consumers by making transactions not only less expensive, but also more secure.

ABL members and state affiliates played an important role in this spring’s swipe fee debate, responding to ABL’s call to action and opposing the repeal of the Durbin Amendment. Their grassroots advocacy amplified the chorus of American retail businesses that was heard loud and clear across Capitol Hill.

“This is an important win for our members because it’s a bottom line issue that affects their businesses and their customers,” said Bodnovich. “An effort like this is a good reminder that beverage licensees will stand up for their interests on Capitol Hill and continue to play an important role in policy debates that affect their businesses.”

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About American Beverage Licensees: ABL is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments. The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.

May Is National Tavern Month

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Join ABL in Recognizing Bar & Tavern Owners by Celebrating the 64th Annual Tavern Month

April 28, 2017 – Bethesda, MD – Since 1953, Tavern Month has served as an opportunity to support local hospitality businesses, promote the responsible service and enjoyment of beverage alcohol, and educate the public about the economic engine formed by the hundreds of thousands of on-premise beverage licensees throughout the United States. Which is why this May, ABL and America’s Beer, Wine & Spirits Retailers encourage everyone to recognize their local bars and taverns by celebrating Tavern Month.

Long known as the “Friendliest Place in Town,” the American bar and tavern represent the epitome of community spirit and social culture – both of which are at the core of this nation’s civic fabric. Be it the corner pub, a trendy lounge, a wine bar, or a family-owned and operated tavern, they all have the same essential function: serving as a place where people come together for meetings, celebrations, and remembrances. Simply put, they are places where people come to share.

Bars and taverns have played an integral role in the development and formation of this nation for nearly 250 years: in 1773, the Sons of Liberty planned the Boston Tea Party at the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston; in 1787, 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention celebrated at Philadelphia’s City Tavern two days prior to the signing of the Constitution; and in 1833, Abraham Lincoln and associate William Berry opened three stores that doubled as bars, selling brandies, gin, wine, rum and whiskey.

“The important role played by bars and taverns in the history of this nation should not be overlooked,” noted ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich. “Whether it’s serving as a location for like-minded individuals to meet and discuss the pressing issues of the day, the sponsoring of local youth athletics programs, or working with local civic organizations to promote and support community initiatives, on-premise beverage retailers are there – and often times, they are leading the way.”

According to the 2016 Economic Impact Study of America’s Beer, Wine & Spirits Retailers, direct retail alcohol sales for on-premise, licensed establishments account for as many as 1.41 million jobs; $35.9 billion in wages and benefits; and more than $76 billion in economic impact annually.  When including all sales by on-premise, full-service restaurants and drinking places, those numbers climb to 5.66 million jobs; $136.7 billion in wages and benefits; and over $275 billion in economic impact.

As the retail tier within the Three-Tier System, bar and tavern owners also work with elected officials and state regulators on an on-going and continual basis to support sensible beverage alcohol policy. These owners also place a strong emphasis on providing the public with responsible service, as evidenced through various employee training programs and the implementation of programs and initiatives designed to both discourage and prevent drunk driving and underage access to alcohol.

This May, join ABL and its state and local bar and tavern association affiliates in embracing the historic and modern roles of the American bar and tavern, the hardworking individuals who strive to keep the doors of their businesses open, and the good jobs they provide to those in their communities. Celebrate Tavern Month this May by raising a glass to the American tavern – the friendliest place in town. To learn more about Tavern Month, click here!

 

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About American Beverage Licensees: ABL is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments.  The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.

Steve Morris Elected ABL President

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Steve Morris of Jorgenson’s Restaurant & Lounge in Helena, Montana, Elected ABL President

April 11, 2017 – Bethesda, MD – Steve Morris, owner of Jorgenson’s Restaurant & Lounge in Helena, Montana, was elected by the American Beverage Licensees (ABL) Board of Directors at its annual meeting as the 8th President of ABL, the nation’s largest national association dedicated to representing the interests of beer, wine and spirits retailers. Elected on March 27, 2017, Morris, will serve a two-year term, leading the association as it advocates on behalf of on- and off-premise beverage licensees from across the country.

“Steve is one of ABL’s most passionate and active board members who, with nearly 30 years of experience in the industry, brings a wealth of knowledge and insight that will make him an effective leader of the association,” said ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich. “Having spent time leading the Montana Tavern Association and working directly with Montana legislators, Steve knows how to address the needs of his peers in the retail tier, while also working collaboratively with government and industry partners. His years of experience on the ABL Board of Directors will also prove invaluable in his new leadership role.”

Morris has been a member of the ABL Board of Directors since 2005, serving as Vice President and an At-Large Representative. In 2003, he was named a Brown-Forman Retailer of the Year and, since 2009, he has served on the board of directors’ Government Affairs Committee.

Morris has owned and operated Jorgenson’s Restaurant & Lounge in Helena with his wife, Barb, for nearly three decades. He is also actively involved in the Montana Tavern Association (MTA), where he has been a member since 1989 and served as President from 2001-2003. He was also presented with the 2015 Durkee Award, the MTA’s highest honor.

“I am both humbled and honored to serve as the next president of American Beverage Licensees,” said Morris. “For the past 15 years, ABL has worked tirelessly in support of the interests of independent beverage retailers, and I look forward to working closely with the board and staff in the years to come as we advance our platform and provide our members with tangible results on a range of issues.”

 

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About American Beverage Licensees: ABL is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments. The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.

Brown-Forman Retailers of the Year

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ABL Honors 18 Beverage Retailers at Annual Meeting

Brown-Forman Retailers of the Year Recognized for Their Continued  Commitment to the Beverage Alcohol Industry

 

April 7, 2017 – Bethesda, MD – Eighteen beverage licensees from across the United States were recognized as Brown-Forman Retailers of the Year at the 2017 ABL Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nominated by their state beverage associations for their success and dedication to the beverage alcohol industry, these business owners were honored in a ceremony at the ABL Honors Gala on March 27, 2017.

For more than two decades, the Brown-Forman Retailer of the Year awards have celebrated independent retail beverage business owners who engage in responsible sales and service of beverage alcohol, and who are committed to their state beverage associations.  ABL congratulates all of the honored businesses and licensees for their outstanding and continued contributions to the industry and their communities.

“Independent beverage retailers support a dynamic and spirited industry, while also promoting and encouraging the responsible sale and enjoyment of beer, wine and spirits,” said ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich. “It is in this spirit that they are recognized with this award before their industry peers and held up as examples of success.”

Brown-Forman, one of the world’s leading distilled spirits producers, has remained a steadfast sponsor of the awards, recognizing the importance of vibrant independent alcohol retailers, and continuing their support of those who are the last to handle beverage products before they reach the hands of consumers. In attendance to present awards to this year’s recipients was Michael Rasp, Brown-Forman’s Nevada State Manager.

“We are grateful to work with Brown-Forman in honoring responsible beverage retailers across the country,” Bodnovich added.

Pictured Left-to-Right: Bill Asbury | Mark A. Brown | James F. Castellani | Richard R. Laczkowski | Mike Scheuerman |

Carolyn Joy | Michael Rasp (Brown-Forman) | Debbie Mayfield | Mike Maro | Sean Barry | Mike Harris | Neil Caflisch | John Cutter | Mickey Daniel

 

The 2017 Brown-Forman Retailers of the Year Include:

John Cutter & Mickey Daniel

Windmill Beverages

Athens, AL

 Dan Grider

Sky Bar

Auburn, AL

 Carolyn Joy

Joy Wine and Spirits

Denver, CO
Mark A. Brown

The Wine Shop at Parkaire

Marietta, GA

 Wesley Morgan

Liquor World

Richmond, KY

 Richard R. Laczkowski

McSki’s Place

Watseka, IL
Don Rix

Big Red Liquors

Indianapolis, IN

 Mike Scheuerman

Friendship Wine & Liquor

Abingdon, MD

 Mike Harris

Harris Crab House

Chester, MD
Sean Barry

Four Seasons Wine & Liquor

Hadley, MA

 Victor Pittman

Silver Leaf Wines and Spirits

Madison, MS

 Bill Asbury

Buck Eye Bar

Bridger, MT
Mike Maro

Maro Brothers

Hainesport, NJ

 James F. Castellani

The Wine & Liquor Outlet

Lockport, NY

 Debbie Mayfield

Bergheim Cellars

Boerne, TX
Neil Caflisch

Square Tavern

Baraboo, WI

 Brian “Alf” Grzegorczyk

Alf’s Pub & Package Liquor

Cheyenne, WY

 

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2017 ABL Annual Meeting A Success

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ABL Brings Together Beverage Retailers from Across the United States for 15th Annual Meeting

2017 Meeting Provided Informational Sessions & Recognition of Beverage Retailers

 

April 6, 2017 – Bethesda, MD – Beverage retailers and their partners from across the hospitality industry came together in Las Vegas on March 26-28 for American Beverage Licensees’ (ABL) 15th Annual Meeting.  Attendees networked with their peers from around the country and learned about emerging issues in the beverage alcohol industry.  Meeting speakers addressed a variety of important topics including the issues facing the wholesale tier, emerging trends in the beverage alcohol sector, mobile alcohol ordering platforms, music licensing, the growing recreational cannabis marketplace and legislation, and state alcohol policy initiatives.

“The diversity of this year’s annual meeting program recognized the range of ABL member businesses from across the country,” said ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich.  “From urban to rural, large to small, on-premise to off-premise, there was something from the meeting that all attendees could take home to use in their businesses, state associations and with elected leaders.”

Eric Dopkins, CEO & Founder of Milestone Brands, LLC, delivered the keynote address about the keys to growth in the beverage alcohol industry and how best to position one’s business for success.  The wholesale tier was represented at the meeting by Craig Purser, President & CEO of the National Association of Beverage Wholesalers, and Craig Wolf, President & CEO of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, who provided attendees with an overview of where the wholesale tier currently stands important industry issues and where wholesalers are working with retailers.

Senior Vice President of the Beverage Alcohol Practice at The Nielsen Company, Danny Brager, made a presentation about current and emerging trends in the retail environment, which covered various trends shaping the beverage alcohol sector, including Direct-to-Consumer sales and the growing number of places consumers can purchase beverage alcohol.

Following the Annual Luncheon sponsored by MillerCoors, the meeting delved into three important issues for beverage retailers: mobile alcohol ordering, music licensing and recreational marijuana.

The mobile alcohol ordering conversation featured Bryan Goodwin, Senior Vice President – Commercial Sales & Operations at Drizly, and Brad Rosen, CEO & Founder of Drync, who provided attendees with information on how their respective businesses operate, what their entry into the marketplace means for retailers, and how the they can work together with retailers.  Steve Bene, General Counsel at Pandora Media, Inc., shared his perspective on the current state of music licensing, what it means for retailers, and the various challenges and opportunities that lay ahead when it comes to legislative and legal actions.

In a session titled “Seeds of Change: The Emerging Cannabis Marketplace & What It Means for the Beverage Alcohol Industry”, Vivien Azer, Managing Director & Senior Research Analyst at Cowen & Company, provided an in-depth economic analysis of the growing cannabis industry and market trends – from investment standpoints to interplay with the existing beverage alcohol market and its key players.

The ABL Annual Meeting closed its general session with a focus on state policy issues.  New Jersey State Senator Nicholas Scutari discussed his months-long research effort to identify effective recreational marijuana policy measures, including looking at parallels to the alcohol industry’s regulatory framework.  In a presentation titled “Alcohol Policy: State of the States”, the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association’s Steve Schmidt, Senior Vice President – Public Policy & Communications, and Neal Insley, Senior Vice President & General Council, discussed various alcohol policy related issues currently taking place at the state level, and the implications some of these issues may have at the national level.

The 2017 Annual Meeting also provided an opportunity for ABL to recognize those who make a difference in the industry.  Seventeen retail beverage businesses from across the country were recognized with the 2017 Brown-Forman Retailer of the Year awards at the ABL Honors Gala.  Also recognized was the 2017 ABL Top Shelf Award honoree, Tito Beveridge, Founder & Owner, Tito’s Handmade Vodka. The ABL Top Shelf Award recognizes those who have demonstrated excellence over their careers in the beverage alcohol industry and represents the highest recognition given by ABL.

The ABL Board of Directors also elected four beverage licensees to the ABL Executive Committee during the Annual Meeting. These individuals, each serving two-year terms, will lead the association towards meeting its strategic goals and initiatives. The new officers include:

  • President: Steve Morris | Jorgenson’s Restaurant & Lounge | Helena, MT
  • Vice President Off-Premise: Paul Santelle | Garden State Discount Liquors | Perth Amboy, NJ
  • Vice President On-Premise: John “JJ” Moran, Jr. | Four Winds Liquor & Lounge | Cheyenne, WY
  • At-Large: Robert “Bubba” Sprenger | Bubba’s | Marion, WI

 

ABL also thanks it 2017 Annual Meeting sponsors: Bacardi USA, Inc.; Beam Suntory; Brown-Forman; E. & J. Gallo Winery; Infinium Spirits; Milestone Brands, LLC; MillerCoors; National Association of Beverage Importers; The Presidents’ Forum of the Distilled Spirits Industry; Serralles USA; Texas Package Stores Association; and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

 

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American Beverage Licensees is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.77 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments.  The beverage retailing industry pays over $19.3 billion in federal taxes and $16.9 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.

 

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ABL Confirms Annual Meeting Keynote

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Eric Dopkins, CEO & Founder of Milestone Brands to Provide Keynote Address at Organization’s March Annual Meeting in Las Vegas

February 27, 2017 – Bethesda, MD – American Beverage Licensees (ABL), representing America’s beer, wine and spirits retailers, announced today that Eric Dopkins, CEO & Founder of Milestone Brands, LLC, has been confirmed as the featured keynote speaker at the organization’s upcoming annual meeting, being held March 26-28 in Las Vegas.

“Since 2002, ABL has held an annual meeting which brings together our members and representatives from the producer and distributor tiers, in order to grow relationships, promote shared interests, and gain a better understanding of where the industry as a whole is heading,” noted ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich. “To this end, we couldn’t be more excited about having Eric as the meeting’s featured keynote speaker – as he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the spirits business, which he will be sharing with meeting attendees.”

In a career spanning more than two decades in the spirits industry, Mr. Dopkins has served in a number of senior leadership positions with companies including Diageo, Boz Spirits, Pernod Ricard, and Young’s Market Company. Immediately prior to founding Milestone Brands, Mr. Dopkins spent two years as the CEO of Deep Eddy Spirits, where he helped grow Deep Eddy’s sales from $6 million to more than $73 million, while also leading the company through its 2015 acquisition by Kentucky-based Heaven Hill Brands.

Additional presenters and sessions open to all ABL Annual Meeting attendees include:

Vivien Azer (Managing Director & Senior Research Analyst | Cowen & Company) – Seeds of Change: The Emerging Cannabis Marketplace & It’s Place Within Alcohol’s Sphere of Influence

Steve Bene (General Counsel | Pandora Media, Inc.) – Update: The Current State of the Music Licensing Landscape

Danny Brager (SVP – Beverage Alcohol Practice | The Nielsen Company) – Where We Are & Where We’re Going: Current and Emerging Trends in the Retail Environment

Bryan Goodwin (SVP, Commercial Sales & Operations | Drizly) & Brad Rosen (CEO & Founder | Drync) – The Next Frontier? Mobile Alcohol Ordering Platforms

Craig Purser (President & CEO | National Beer Wholesalers Association) & Craig Wolf (President & CEO | Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America) – A Whole Lot of Sales: Current State of the Wholesale Tier in the Marketplace

Steve Schmidt (SVP – Public Policy & Communications | National Alcohol Beverage Control Association) – Alcohol Policy: State of the States

Nicholas P. Scutari (New Jersey State Senator | Democrat – District 22) – Recreational Marijuana Legislation: Parallels to Alcohol Industry’s Regulatory Framework

Kraig Naasz (President & CEO | Distilled Spirits Council) will also address the ABL Board of Directors during its meeting.

Registration for the annual meeting is currently available online for $299, and includes access to all ABL events and a complimentary 2-Day Expo Hall pass to the Nightclub & Bar Trade Show 2017. This pass will provide attendees with access to the expo hall on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 28-29, which will feature over 600 exhibitors presenting spirits, beer, wine and numerous other products for beverage businesses.

Click here to view 2017 ABL Annual Meeting schedule of events. For more information on ABL or the annual meeting, please visit www.ablusa.org.

 

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American Beverage Licensees is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments. The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.

Bars & Liquor Stores Have to Compete: Why Shouldn’t Banks? (ABL Op-Ed)

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The Following Op-Ed Was Published by The Hill on February 3, 2017. Please Click Here to View Online.

 

Bars & Liquor Stores Have to Compete: Why Shouldn’t Banks?

By: John Bodnovich | Executive Director, American Beverage Licensees (ABL)

The hundreds of thousands of bars and liquor stores across America know a thing or two about competition.

When it comes to buying beer, wine and spirits, customers can vote with their feet and their wallets. That’s because a well-regulated and highly competitive beverage-alcohol marketplace has ushered in more consumer choice than ever before.

Congress brought some of this type of competition to debit cards a few years back. Those reforms said the Visa and MasterCard networks could no longer block their competitors from trying to get business and allowed their customers, merchants, to choose which network (including smaller companies like Star, Pulse, NYCE and others) they wanted to use.

And, the reforms gave banks incentives to compete on price rather than let Visa and MasterCard price-fix their fees. If they go with price-fixed fees, the Federal Reserve limits how high they can be.

The reforms have started to make a real difference and help Main Street businesses and their customers.

Before these reforms were put in place, whenever a customer swiped a card, local beverage businesses were plunged into a murky backwater of price-fixing where big banks used their muscle to squash competitors and charge outrageous fees for their services.

Most people had no idea this was happening when they swiped a card to pay their bar tab, or that it was raising the price they paid for a six-pack of beer or a bottle of bourbon.

But the fact was that these “swipe fees” were hurting Main Street businesses that were trying to provide jobs and benefits to their communities.

Now, the gains that have been made in this David vs. Goliath battle could be wiped out if some in Congress have their way.

Even with the modest reforms to debit cards, banks are still marking up their debit card fees an astonishing 500 percent according to the figures the banks themselves report to the Federal Reserve.

Still, Congress did usher in badly-needed, pro-competition measures to the debit-card marketplace.

Beverage licensees, with their fellow members of America’s retail community, aren’t asking for a leg up. They want a level playing field; they want the swipe-fee market to behave the way the rest of our economy does: with competition ensuring fairness and bringing efficiency and lower prices to consumers.

And make no mistake: These problems become everyone’s problems. Swipe fees (including those on credit cards) have ballooned into many merchants’ second-largest operating cost after labor. Tighter margins for retailers mean they are forced to raise prices to at least partially cover the exorbitant cost of price-fixed swipe fees and, most critically, keep their doors open.

Congress should not even consider repealing these pro-consumer debit reforms, especially with big banks enjoying soaring profits.

That’s why hundreds of thousands of merchants, large and small from all over the country, are asking Congress not to turn the clock back.

Keeping in place swipe fee reforms signals support for a level playing field for businesses of all sizes and would continue to save consumers hundreds, if not thousands, of their hard-earned dollars annually.

Congress should protect the progress made on debit-card reform and explore other ways to increase transparency and competition to truly make the payment card market a free one.

John Bodnovich is the Executive Director of American Beverage Licensees, a national trade association representing 15,000 on- and off-premise beer, wine and spirits retailers throughout the country.

Book Your Stay Today for the 2017 ABL Annual Meeting in Las Vegas

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February 1, 2017 – Bethesda, MD – Rooms are still available but going quickly for the American Beverage Licensees 2017 Annual Meeting, being held March 26-28 in Las Vegas, Nevada. ABL has reserved rooms at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, the host hotel for the annual meeting, and is excited to offer attendees a heavily discounted nightly rate of $88.00 for those booking online or by phone on a first-come, first-served basis ($58.00 room rate + $30.00 daily resort fee).

While space is still available, the room block is limited and may fill up prior to the booking deadline of Friday, February 24, 2017. Click here to book your room or call (888) 529-4828 and reference “XABL2017” to receive the discounted rated.

Registration for the annual meeting is currently available online for $299, and includes access to all ABL events and a complimentary 2-Day Expo Hall pass to the Nightclub & Bar Trade Show 2017. This pass will provide attendees with access to the expo hall on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 28-29, which will feature over 600 exhibitors presenting spirits, beer, wine and numerous other products for beverage businesses.

In addition to hospitality events showcasing some of the industry’s finest products, attendees will hear from a variety speakers on some of the most pressing topics in the industry including the recreational marijuana market; the future of third-party alcohol delivery; music licensing; state alcohol policy news; industry business trends; recent developments in the wholesale tier; and much more.

ABL will also recognize outstanding beverage retailers with Retailer of the Year Awards and honor Tito Beveridge of Tito’s Handmade Vodka with the 2017 ABL Top Shelf Award.

Click here to view the 2017 ABL Annual Meeting schedule of events. For more information on ABL or the annual meeting, please visit www.ablusa.org.

 

View PDF Version of Press Release

*****

American Beverage Licensees is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments.  The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.