Choice, Fairness and Independence in the Market

Preserving the Spirits of America

Beverage consumers in America have the best of all worlds. Competition fosters a wide variety of options, the Three-Tier System of checks and balances guarantees safe and reliable products, and small local businesses have every opportunity to thrive. We must preserve the choice, fairness, and independence that helps make the American beverage market flourish.

Choice

The spirit of American competition is thriving under the current Three-Tier System. 

The Three-Tier System, where suppliers, distributors, and retailers operate independently, facilitates healthy competition between large national manufacturers and smaller boutique beverage-makers. 

The number of craft breweries, distillers, and wineries has grown exponentially across the country over the past decade. 

As a result, consumers have their choice of beverages, from craft breweries to large domestic brands, any time they go to a bar, restaurant, or store.

Fairness

The Three-Tier System gives consumers the benefits and equity of fairness.

The current system prevents monopolies from dominating the market, from production to sale, and using potentially unsafe tactics to increase sales. 

Keeping suppliers, distributors, and retailers completely independent from one another, the Three-Tier System prevents large distributors from dominating shelf space in stores, bars, and restaurants.  

All parties involved must comply with regulations and rules issued by national and state governments, meaning each level of the supply chain is responsible for ensuring the others are responsible and operating fairly and safely.

Independence

The Three-Tier System gives local businesses the freedom to succeed.

Thanks to robust competition and the ability to partner with larger distributors and retailers, small businesses like craft breweries, boutique distillers, and small wineries have the opportunity to grow their business and sell their products independently and widely. 

The alcohol industry supports other local industries, as well, by connecting small producers to local grocery stores, bars, hotels, and restaurants. 

The Three-Tier System also ensures the alcohol supply chain has freedom from unreliable foreign markets, supporting home grown brands and protecting consumer safety and public health.