WHOLESALER PRIORITIES

America's family-owned wine and spirits distributors -- as part of the hospitality industry supply-chain -- continue to face unprecedented regulatory and economic disruption, and mounting business and labor challenges, as coronavirus wreaks havoc on our country. With social distancing policies and mandatory closures of restaurants, bars, hotels, sporting events, concerts and other "on-premise retailers," 25 percent of the U.S. alcohol market has disappeared practically overnight. An increase in corner and grocery store sales may never make up for this loss.

In addition, wine and spirits wholesalers extend credit sales to retailers to bring new, craft, and established brands to diverse markets. Now, during this nationwide shutdown, a majority of those receivables will never be collected -- totaling an anticipated and unprecedented $922 million in debt. This on top of excise taxes that have been remitted by wholesalers accounting for $6 billion annually to the federal government and more than $4 billion annually to the states -- a critical source of revenue for the public good.

To continue the essential operation of America's wholesalers and their hardworking employees, providing service to our suppliers’ brands and to our retail partners and American consumers, please consider the following legislative relief efforts:

• WSWA Legislative Priorities

• Group Credit Sales Letter