Agency Performs Important and Vital Work, Wholesaler Association Head Says
(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) President and CEO Craig Wolf today released the following statement regarding President Obama’s FY 2017 budget request which includes continued support for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB):
“President Obama and Administration officials deserve praise for recognizing the important and vital work carried out by TTB.
“While WSWA supports this request, we join the chorus of industry and social responsibility voices calling for increased program integrity funding for TTB this year and going forward.
“TTB’s mission includes essential programs designed to support the beverage alcohol industry while also ensuring public safety. These include label approvals, trade practices and product integrity testing and inspections. TTB collects more than $457 dollars in tax revenue for every dollar it spends—making it the third most productive tax collection entity in the federal government.
“These critical elements are part of the reason the wholesale tier and industry as a whole enjoy a cooperative—and productive—relationship between businesses and their primary regulatory agency that is virtually unrivaled in any other sector.”
WSWA is the national trade association representing the wholesale tier of the wine and spirits industry, dedicated to advancing the interests and independence of wholesalers, distributors and brokers of wine and spirits. Founded in 1943, WSWA has 364 member companies in 50 states and the District of Columbia and its members distribute more than 80 percent of all wine and spirits sold at wholesale in the United States. More information is available at www.wswa.org.