WSWA SUPPORTS GROUNDBREAKING LEGISLATION
In a bold move that signals a new direction for the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, the group passed a resolution Friday, July 21 overwhelmingly to support underage drinking prevention legislation currently pending in the U.S. House and Senate, called the “STOP Underage Drinking Act” (H.R. 864), or the STOP Act on the Hill, which also contains draft language which stresses the “important role of state-based regulation in the fight against underage drinking”.
This proposed legislation, the result of intense negotiations between various interests in the alcohol beverage industry, including anti-alcohol forces, is a rare case of cooperation between distributors and groups which typically have been on the opposite side of most issues. What brings these two groups together? A shared interest in maintaining strong state regulation of alcohol.
The resolution approved by the WSWA includes the following language:
“The WSWA supports all reasonable efforts to reduce underage consumption of alcoholic beverages; and
the WSWA supports balanced legislation designed to create effective programs to reduce underage consumption of alcoholic beverages; and
state-based regulation of alcoholic beverages from production through consumption is central to reducing underage consumption;
Therefore, be it resolved: WSWA supports HR 864 as drafted on July 19, 2006 and directs the staff of WSWA to communicate its support to members of Congress, the administration, its fellow industry members, public interest groups, and the public.”
DUGGAN SAYS: "We applaud the sponsors of The STOP Act for their understanding of how the three-tier system and state-based alcohol controls provide the public policy rationale and framework that are the very essence of programs that promote responsible consumption and prevent underage drinking. This legislation ought to encourage state legislators to resist attempts by wineries who are demanding to opt-out of the regulated system through direct sales and all those seeking to undermine a state's broad authority to regulate alcohol. We encourage the House to pass the legislation and urge the Senate to vote before the August recess,” says president of the WSWA Juanita Duggan.
CRAIG PURSER OF THE NBWA SAYS: “It is our hope that all of our allies in the licensed beverage industry can come together and support this legislation,” said NBWA President Craig Purser in a statement.
This proposed legislation, the result of intense negotiations between various interests in the alcohol beverage industry, including anti-alcohol forces, is a rare case of cooperation between distributors and groups which typically have been on the opposite side of most issues. What brings these two groups together? A shared interest in maintaining strong state regulation of alcohol.
The resolution approved by the WSWA includes the following language:
“The WSWA supports all reasonable efforts to reduce underage consumption of alcoholic beverages; and
the WSWA supports balanced legislation designed to create effective programs to reduce underage consumption of alcoholic beverages; and
state-based regulation of alcoholic beverages from production through consumption is central to reducing underage consumption;
Therefore, be it resolved: WSWA supports HR 864 as drafted on July 19, 2006 and directs the staff of WSWA to communicate its support to members of Congress, the administration, its fellow industry members, public interest groups, and the public.”
DUGGAN SAYS: "We applaud the sponsors of The STOP Act for their understanding of how the three-tier system and state-based alcohol controls provide the public policy rationale and framework that are the very essence of programs that promote responsible consumption and prevent underage drinking. This legislation ought to encourage state legislators to resist attempts by wineries who are demanding to opt-out of the regulated system through direct sales and all those seeking to undermine a state's broad authority to regulate alcohol. We encourage the House to pass the legislation and urge the Senate to vote before the August recess,” says president of the WSWA Juanita Duggan.
CRAIG PURSER OF THE NBWA SAYS: “It is our hope that all of our allies in the licensed beverage industry can come together and support this legislation,” said NBWA President Craig Purser in a statement.
posted at 3:19 PM
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