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INDUSTRYNEWS
Beer Distributors
Reaffirm Strong
State Regulation is
Key to Fighting
Underage Drinking
In a recent letter to the Office of the Surgeon General, the National
Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), representing more than 1,900 beer
distributors across the United States, recommended that the Surgeon
General make unregulated alcohol sales and attempts to weaken state
alcohol control a central focus of its Call to Action regarding
underage drinking issues.
 The comments were written in response to a request from the
Surgeon General regarding the issue of preventing underage drinking. In
the letter, NBWA President Craig Purser explained how various economic
interests are attempting to deregulate alcohol and otherwise weaken the
states’ abilities to strictly control alcohol sales. As a result of
these efforts, some states have been forced to open their borders to
Internet sales of all alcohol beverages.
“Such anonymous access presents a major challenge to the states’
fight against underage drinking, as consumers receive deliveries from
out-of-state sellers who can not be effectively regulated by the
state,” Purser said. He went on to cite a National Academy of Sciences
study released last year, which estimated that 10 percent of all minors
have actually obtained alcohol over the Internet.
“Beer distributors understand that the products they provide,
while enjoyed by 90 million American adults, can cause devastating
consequences if abused — especially by those under the legal drinking
age,” he said. “The states’ authority to regulate alcohol beverages
must be reinforced.”
NBWA and its members sponsor numerous programs to fight underage
drinking, including public service announcements, publications that
help parents talk to their children about not drinking, educational
speakers in schools that encourage students to stand up to peer
pressure, and alcohol-free prom and graduation parties. These efforts,
along with those of teachers, parents and community leaders, have
contributed to the steady decline of underage drinking over the past 20
years.
The NBWA also will be joining America’s beer wholesalers and brewers at
this year’s 16th Annual NBWA/BREWERS Joint Legislative Conference as
they blanket Capitol Hill and lobby members of Congress and their
staffs on the beer industry’s legislative goals and priorities.
This year’s event will take place in Washington, D.C., May 8-11 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
•
Champagne Imports Sparkle
Newly released data shows Champagne shipments to the United States are
up for the fourth consecutive year. The Office of Champagne, USA,
announced that increased shipments in 2005 continue a multi-year trend.
The United States imported 20,685,693 bottles of Champagne last year,
an increase of more than 2 percent from the 20,257,824 bottles shipped
in 2004 and nearly 10 and 14 percent increases from 2003 and 2002, respectively.
 “It is clear from these figures that U.S. wine drinkers continue to
seek out the unique sparkling wine that can only come from Champagne,
France,” said Sharon J. Castillo, director of the Office of Champagne,
USA. “This continued growth in the U.S. market supports what we have
long believed regarding consumers’ strong desire to select quality
wines that are true to their place of origin."
The increase in Champagne imports to the United States is on par with
worldwide shipments, which totaled 307,498,553 bottles in
2005, also representing a 2 percent increase. The United States, which
imported nearly four times more Champagne than any other non-European
nation, remained the second largest importer of Champagne behind the
United Kingdom. “The influx of rosé Champagne and the increased popularity of mini
bottles contributed to the increase in shipments in 2005,” Castillo
said. “But, the most important trend we identified last year is how
every day more and more Americans are reaching for Champagne beyond
holidays and special occasions.”
News such as this is cause for celebration for nightclub and bar operators nationwide — bubbly, anyone?
TIDBITS
Guy L. Smith, executive vice president of George A. Dickel & Co.,
makers of George Dickel Whisky, has announced that due to popular
demand, the company no longer will be able to provide George Dickel No.
8 all across the country. Because so many whisky connoisseurs have been
enjoying “the best sippin’ whisky around,” George A. Dickel & Co.
had to make some hard choices, and for the time being will supply
George Dickel No. 8 only in a few markets and at the distillery in
Cascade Hollow, Tenn.
•••
Tom Colicchio and Ming Tsai, unquestionably two of
America’s top chefs, have gone public about their favorite rum, and the
timing — with food and beverage pairings ever-increasing on-premise —
is right. Already fans of Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, the two kitchen
wizards have put their names and faces behind the rum with which they
sip, mix and cook.
In the April issue of Bon Appetit magazine, under
the headline “Two of the World’s Most Demanding Chef’s Agree On One
Rare Ingredient,” Colicchio and Tsai put their names alongside the
perennially hard-to-find Bermuda Black Rum.
2006 is Gosling’s Rum’s 200th anniversary, and a
celebratory ad appears on the next page. This inaugurates Gosling’s
Rum’s culinary use initiative. Both chefs feature Gosling’s Black Seal
Rum on their drinks lists and on their menus. At Ming Tsai’s Blue
Ginger, among other East-West, rum-enhanced dishes, there is Shrimp
Tempura with Gosling’s Black Seal Aioli. At Craft Steak, Tom Colicchio
pays homage to his favorite island destination by bringing his
creativity to bear on a classic, Bermuda Onion soup liberally laced
with Gosling’s Black Seal Rum.
MOVERS
& SHAKERS
Luctor
International has hired Jonathan M. Bleiberg to work as its vice
president national sales manager for Van Gogh Vodka. Prior to Luctor,
Bleiberg worked at National Distributing Co. In his new position, he
will manage the overall sales effort of distribution for Van Gogh Vodka
within the United States.
On
joining the Van Gogh team, Bleiberg mentioned his excitement at joining
a company with such growth potential. “It’s a great time to be in this
industry and the opportunity to work with someone like Dave van de
Velde is just too good to pass up. Coming from the distributor side, I
am looking forward to marrying my distributor knowledge with the brand
building involved with working for Van Gogh Vodka.”
David
van de Velde, CEO of Luctor, International, owner and exclusive
importer for Van Gogh Vodkas, said, “We are very pleased to have such
young and bright talent joining our company.”
•••
Anthony
von Mandl recently became the first Canadian to be appointed
competition president of The International Wine and Spirits Competition
(IWSC). As the 27th competition president, von Mandl joins the company
of such highly regarded past presidents as Robert Mondavi, Wolf Blass,
Miguel Torres, Jean Hugel, Marchese Leonardo de’ Frescobaldi, Baroness
Philippine de Rothschild, Marchese Piero Antinori and Warren Winiarski.
The IWSC was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind on the
international stage.
DEALS
Sidney Frank Importing Co. Inc.,
the importer of Jägermeister Liqueur, has announced its primary
sponsorship of Naylor Racing, one of the National Hot Rod Association’s
(NHRA) pro stock teams. Consequently, Jägermeister will be the first
major distilled spirit sponsor of
the NHRA.
With more than 77 million fans, the NHRA is the
fastest and most extreme of all motor sports. It is the second largest
motor sport in the United States and growing, and every NHRA national
event is televised exclusively on ESPN2. This year’s season opened in
mid-February and will run until June 11.
•••
Newcastle Brown Ale, one of America’s
fastest-growing imported beers, now has a promotional partnership
with Napster, the largest brand in digital music. The relationship is
part of Newcastle’s overall strategy to reach its key customer
demographics through music-related promotions, according to Bill
Wetmore, marketing director of Scottish & Newcastle Importers.
“We look for partners that
complement our brand’s unconventional nature,” Wetmore said.
“Given the synergy between Napster’s independent spirit and Newcastle
Brown Ale’s position as ‘The One and Only,’ we found this to be an
ideal partnership. We’re excited about the multitude of
possibilities that exist to promote these brands together.”
The “Ale Blazers” campaign runs for six months in
2006, hitting a total of 23 cities including Atlanta; Boston; San
Francisco; Philadelphia, Pa.; Charleston, S.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Los
Angeles; Denver; Las Vegas; Milwaukee; New York, N.Y.; San Diego;
Raleigh, N.C.; Santa Barbara, Calif.; Orlando, Fla.; Indianapolis;
Phoenix, Ariz.; Tampa, Fla.; and Chicago.
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