Responsible Revenues

DISCUS President Dr. Peter H. Cressy delivered a keynote address at "The Show" earlier this month in Las Vegas and told the room's capacity audience at the outset, what happened in Las Vegas for the four-day show extravaganza need not and should not stay there.

"People are drinking better, not more," the former admiral who now runs the Washington D.C. based lobby organization for the spirits industry told "The Show" attendees. And thanks to the same super- and ultra-premium preference among consumers that has lifted the profit in every cocktail poured, "Spirits sales are booming in constant dollars, up from 21 billion to 33.2 billion in seven years," he said.

Cressy called the combination of responsibility at a higher premium revenue point the key to sustainability for a global industry that has seen eight percent compounded average growth.  "We want more people drinking in moderation," he added.

On what he described as the not so exciting front of state regulation and tax issues, Cressy said state and federal officials are getting the message when it comes to targeting the spirits industry for taxes that damage the economy and cost jobs.

Of the 174 legislative battles that DISCUS waged in 40 states and at the federal level, he said 164 were won and represented victories for responsible alcohol consumption. "Legislatures understand that liquor taxes are hospitality taxes," Cressy said.

The lesson that Cressy has taken from such hard-won fights is that self-regulation remains essential. "The last thing you want is government telling you how to run your business," he said, urging the audience to actively support social responsibility.