JUANITA DUGGAN: “WHOLESALERS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE BEVERAGE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY.”

WSWA president Juanita Duggan gave a spirited speech at the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers convention in Las Vegas championing distributors for their hard work. “It's the wholesaler who educates the retailers and sells the Madison Avenue idea to the consumer. And it's time you take credit for making this look so easy,” she said. Juanita called distributing a “daunting” task that “requires systems and expertise so complex, only the most sophisticated specialist can deliver the goods.” Yet, she pointed out, there are people “out there trying to destroy” the three-tier system. “This attack is coming from trial lawyers who have no regard for the consequences of their actions. To them, dismantling the time-tested regulatory system is nothing but a game – a dangerous game.” She warned those individuals supporting direct delivery that they may be in over their heads. “Those who supported the right of small wineries to sell direct to consumers should have been careful what they asked for. The direct-to-retail lawsuits are the biggest threat to suppliers, wholesalers and retailers alike since Prohibition.”