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VA: Virginia ABC Hosts Alcohol Industry Trade Summit to Encourage Fair Practice

VA: Virginia ABC Hosts Alcohol Industry Trade Summit to Encourage Fair Practice

 

Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

News Release

July 14, 2016

RICHMOND – In a proactive effort to collaborate with alcohol industry members, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Bureau of Law Enforcement hosted a trade practice summit in Charlottesville Tuesday to specifically address issues associated with the commonwealth’s three-tier system and tied-house laws. The three-tier system and the tied-house laws that support it are unique to the alcohol industry and were intended to keep a separation between alcohol manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers to prevent unfair competition and public safety problems that were present in many communities prior to Prohibition.

 

More than 75 representatives from state and national alcohol manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers attended the event, which was held at Piedmont Virginia Community College. The summit consisted of presentations by industry experts including Paul Pisano, senior vice president, industry affairs and general counsel of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, former Oregon Liquor Control Commission Executive Director Pam Erickson and Virginia ABC Chief Operating Officer Travis Hill, followed by scenario workshops to address varying perspectives on trade practice regulation.

 

“As alcohol industry regulators, Virginia ABC recognizes education is a key long-term strategy in fostering compliance,” said ABC Chief Operating Officer Travis Hill. “Our Bureau of Law Enforcement created the trade practices summit as a forum for industry members to develop a better understanding of Virginia’s three-tier system – its history, societal value, laws and regulations – and to address questions and concerns on how the laws are enforced.”

 

Throughout the day, emphasis was placed on promoting fair and balanced trade practices within the alcohol marketplace. On the national stage, several states including Massachusetts and Arizona have recently placed heavy fines on distributors who were violating fair trade practices by offering illegal incentives to carry one product over another.

 

Six prominent industry groups partnered with Virginia ABC to organize the trade practice summit, including the Craft Brewers Guild; Virginia Beer Wholesalers; Virginia Petroleum, Convenience and Grocers Association; Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association; Virginia Wine Wholesalers Association; and the Virginia Wineries Association.

 

Contact:

 

Kathleen Shaw

804-213-4640

Kathleen.shaw@abc.virginia.gov