America’s Beer Distributors celebrate May as Tavern Month

Throughout the month of May, the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) will recognize the 61st Annual Tavern Month, a celebration of the many licensed bars and taverns that provide hundreds of thousands of jobs to hardworking men and women and enrich America’s social culture.

As Main Street businesses, bar and tavern owners partner with America’s 3,300 independent, licensed beer distributors in communities across the country to provide responsible service and sales as part of an effective system of state-based alcohol regulation. In some cases, bar and tavern owners pay more than $1 million to secure a license to sell alcohol. Distributors work with retailers to protect these investments by supporting training programs and ID checks and ensuring responsible business practices.

“It’s a great American tradition for adults to gather with friends or colleagues to enjoy a beer in their local bar or tavern,” said NBWA President and Chief Executive Officer Craig Purser. “America’s beer distributors are excited to partner with bar and tavern owners as part of a system that helps new brands get to market and offers consumers their choice of the largest international brands and the smallest local brews all on the same menu and bar tap. These on-premise accounts are the incubators of new beer brands, and beer distributors are proud to work hand-in-hand with licensed retailers to provide consumers from coast to coast with an unparalleled choice and variety of beer – more than 13,000 different labels.”

“America’s bars and taverns are the face of Main Street,” said John Bodnovich, executive director of American Beverage Licensees, the nation’s largest trade association dedicated to the bar and tavern industry. “As we celebrate Tavern month this May, on-premise beverage licensees join their beer distributor partners in investing in their local communities, providing jobs and delivering unparalleled choices to millions of customers across the country.”