StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/73857
Rob Sands, President and CEO of Constellation Brands, delivered a presentation describing trends in the bev- erage alcohol industry, past and present. In his "Chairman's Welcome," NABCA Chairman of the Board Patrick "P.J." Stapleton, noted that "at no other time in our his- tory has it been more important to tell the story of the value and benefits of control systems in meeting the interests of our citi- zens. We can boast being impor- tant revenue generators and can scientifically prove our positive impact on the public health and safety." And in his opening state- ment, Stapleton added that though the control states had a tough year, "each control state is proud of the efforts of its public servants," as they balance the need for promoting responsibility and control with the necessity to create revenue for their states. In General Session I, Mara Liasson (center), political correspondent for NPR and political contributor to FOX News, moderated a wide-ranging debate between two former Pennsylvania governors: Ed Rendell (Democrat), left, and Tom Ridge (Republican), right. Though they expressed several differences, the debate was marked by several points of agreement, an overall tone of humor and civility, and their mutual con- demnation of the poisonous, partisan atmosphere in today's Congress. NABCA Chairman P.J. Stapleton (left) moderated Business Session I, titled "75 Years Young," where both William Goldring (center), Chairman of the Sazerac Company, and Mark Brown, President and CEO of the Sazerac Company, gave their views on today's beverage alcohol marketplace relative to marketing, retailing and distribution issues in both the control and open states. Stapleton then introduced the opening speakers for General Session I, simply titled "2012." Mara Liasson, political correspondent for NPR and political contributor to FOX News, moderated a wide-ranging debate between two former Pennsylvania governors: Ed Rendell (Democrat) and Tom Ridge (Republican). Though they expressed several differences, the debate was marked by several points of agreement, an overall tone of humor and civility, and their mutual condem- nation of the poisonous, partisan atmosphere in today's Congress. Naturally, the conversation was mostly about poli- tics and the upcoming 2012 election. For his part, Rendell noted the incumbent always carries a lot of bag- gage, especially this year with the slow-growing econo- my. He believes that the President did the right thing in StateWays s www.stateways.com s July/August 2012 proposing the stimulus bill and the Affordable Care Act, but he also believes he did a lousy job of explaining their benefits to the American people. He also feels that the President made a mistake in not using the findings of Simpson-Bowles to set up a framework for working out our short- and long-term issues in the economy. Ridge explained that he thinks national polls are unimportant because the election will be decided in 10 or 12 states, and feels the election will hinge on the economy. He noted that Romney, who has no Washington experience, should choose a vice presiden- tial nominee with experience, as President Obama did in choosing Joe Biden. He suggested Ohio Senator Rob Portman. And Rendell agreed that Portman would be a good choice. Addressing the topic of the huge amounts of money being collected for the campaigns, both governors 29