Business Session II, entitled "Control State Myth Busting," decon- structed and rebutted many of the oft-cited criticisms of control systems. Moderated by George Griffin (center), director of the Montgomery County, MD, Dept. of Liquor Control, the panelists included, from left, Mike Keyes, President, North American Region, Brown-Forman; Bob Peter, President and CEO of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario; Donn Lux, Chairman and CEO of Luxco; and Simon Hunt, President of William Grant & Sons USA.
Mike Herring (left), Chief Administrator, North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, and Ron Moats, Acting Commissioner, West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration.
The crew from Serralles USA included John Eason, VP, National Sales Manager, along with Alana Bly, D'Shawn Kerrins, John Gomatos, Estaban Ordonez, John Meisles, Steve Jurbala and Rob Ortiz.
agreed that there should be transparency, which there now isn't as a result of the Supreme Court's Citizen's United decision, regarding what entity, corporation, group or person donates money to which candidate, so voters can have information about where the money is coming from. However, both Ridge and Rendell also agreed that money may not be the whole answer: the three debates will be key, they said, as well as organiza- tion, or "boots on the ground," as Ridge said. Indeed, Ridge sees real structural problems in the configuring of Congressional districts. "We're develop- ing districts that are homogeneous," he said. "I don't think that's healthy. I like competitive districts." And, as a partial solution, he would consider term limits for Congress, "maybe 10 or 12 years," he said. Rendell
30
Mark Bodi (right), new Chairman of the NABCA and Commissioner of the New Hampshire State Liquor Commission, and Alison Potts, executive vp, control states, Bacardi USA.
added that he agreed.
Business Session I featured Bill Goldring, chairman of Sazerac, and Mark Brown, president and CEO of Sazerac, in a wide-ranging discussion about regulation, distribution and the current overall environment in the beverage alcohol industry.
Goldring pointed to two major changes in the industry over the years: first, severe consolidation at the supplier and wholesale levels. "Since 1950, of the top 10 spirits suppliers, only one remains [Brown-Forman]," he said. Second, consumer taste preferences have changed dramatically, with products in many different types of categories, and "flavors driving the business now. But," he asked, "how much more can be absorbed onto retail- ers' shelves?"
StateWays s www.stateways.com s July/August 2012
