December 5, 2008, Marks 75th Anniversary of Prohibition Repeal

RJ Note: Ahh. Prohibition. The time when Americans decided they could end drunkeness and overindulgence by declaring alcohol illegal. Seems like that thought backfired. Seems like I can remember moonshine. Seems like I can remember backyard stills. Seems like I can remember the taste of homemade shine. Seems like I can remember young people losing their lives running illegal alcohol. Wait a minute. Some of those memories are only 30-35 years old. Ahh. Memories. Some are good and some are better left in the past.

Should you decide to celebrate the day, please do so responsibly.

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- December 5, 2008, marks 75 years since Prohibition was officially repealed in the United States with the ratification of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. On December 5, 1933, a 3/4 majority of states needed to ratify the 21st Amendment was reached when Utah adopted the 21st Amendment. It not only officially ended national Prohibition which began with the 18th Amendment in 1919; the 21st Amendment also established the effective, state-based system of alcohol regulation that today works to efficiently provide American consumers with an unparalleled choice and variety of beer.

"This anniversary is a great time to recognize the success of the past 75 years of effective, state-based alcohol regulation since the ratification of the 21st Amendment," said NBWA President Craig Purser. "A 'one size fits all' approach to alcohol regulation during Prohibition was a failure. The 21st Amendment allows individual states to regulate alcohol as their citizens see fit."

"Today, American consumers of legal drinking age have access to nearly 13,000 labels of beer from small regional microbrews to the largest multinational labels - all delivered through a transparent and accountable alcohol distribution system," continued Purser. "The American system of alcohol distribution, which tracks products from the time they leave the brewer or importer until the time they reach store shelves or bar taps, is the gold standard for transporting products to consumers."

Today, America's 2,750 licensed beer distributors - which are licensed by both the states and the federal government - are the critical link in the three-tier system of beer distribution, sourcing fresh beer only from federally-licensed brewers and importers and supplying it only to licensed retailers including restaurants and convenience stores.

Unlike other countries around the world, the American beer distribution system creates a clear chain of custody and provides transparency, accountability and traceability. Beer distributors are able to track the product from the time it leaves the brewer or importer until the time it reaches a licensed retailer. This regulated market works to protect American consumers from "bootlegging" and poisonous or counterfeit alcohol which is a problem in many countries.

America's beer distributors provide quality jobs to 91,000 hard-working men and women, who start the engines on beer trucks long before the sun comes up in markets from coast to coast. These employees not only earn solid wages; they receive company-provided benefits including health care.

"On December 5, join America's beer distributors in recognizing this landmark anniversary and the effective, state-based system of alcohol regulation that has supplied American consumers with an enormous choice and variety of beer through a transparent and accountable system for the past 75 years," said Purser.

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