For over sixty (60) years, the Minnesota Beer Wholesaler Association ("MBWA") has served as the membership organization of the beer distributing industry in the state of Minnesota. All beer distributing businesses in Minnesota are family owned and operated, in some instances by the third and even fourth generation. There are currently about ninety (90) beer distributors operating throughout the state.
ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF THE BEER INDUSTRY TO MINNESOTA
A 2004 study commissioned by the National Beer Wholesaler Association and the Beer Institute summarized the economic contributions of the beer industry to Minnesota's economy. At that time, the industry paid $518 Million in federal, state, and local taxes. The industry employed 37,170 Minnesotans, paid $970,800,000 in wages, and made a total economic contribution to the state of $2,680,000,000. Each ten (10) jobs in the beer industry help create an additional twenty (20) jobs in other industries. The Study further found that Minnesota's Beer Industry, through direct and indirect contributions, helped add 2,960 jobs and over $131.4 Million in wages to the state economy over the last two years alone.
CONCLUSION
Beer Wholesalers are a vital part of our state economy, particularly in outstate Minnesota. In addition to fueling Minnesota's economic engine through capital purchases, such as warehouses, trucks, vehicles, computers, and other items, beer distributors also support other community businesses such as insurance, banking, health providers, accounting, legal, transportation, advertising, and the like. Beer distributors are good corporate citizens in the communities where they live and work. They are a source of substantial philanthropic support in those communities. Since the 1970's, they have been deeply committed to responsible use of their products through such means as the award winning program called MBWA CARE, the purpose of which is to raise alcohol awareness in communities and take affirmative steps to prevent intemperate consumption of alcohol.
