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Product Tastings are a Critical Marketing Tool for the Distilled Spirits Industry

• There are currently more than 4,000 brands of distilled spirits on the market in the United States, and hundreds of new brands are marketed each year. Tastings are an extremely effective way to encourage responsible adult consumers to try and ultimately choose new beverage alcohol products, as well as to select existing brands that may be new to these consumers.
• Beer and wine consumers also purchase and consume distilled spirits products. Tastings give consumers an opportunity to try and learn about the wide variety of the types and brands of distilled spirits products available for purchase.
• Tastings allow consumers to determine whether the product suits their palate before having to pay for a full-sized premium product.
• Distilled spirits contribute more than $26.9 billion in economic activity and over 530,000 jobs to the U.S. economy. Much of that activity is in the retail sector, including retail stores, bars, taverns and restaurants. Retail sales, enhanced by effective marketing tools like tastings, contribute even further to jobs, tax revenues and the economy as a whole.

Most States Currently Allow Some Form of Distilled Spirits Product Tastings

• State laws and regulations should provide equal market access and a level playing field for all beverage alcohol - beer, wine and distilled spirits.
• At least 34 states allow tastings in bars and restaurants and 22 states allow tastings in retail stores that sell spirits for off-premise consumption. Even more allow tastings of wine and beer.
• In light of the fact that on-premise and off-premise establishments both hold a valid State license, tastings should be permitted at all retail establishments.

Product tastings are a traditional responsible marketing tool

• Tastings are a customary and longstanding means to feature a brand of product.
• For beverage alcohol, state laws prohibiting underage sales and illegal consumption apply equally to tastings.
• States that permit tastings often limit the number of tastings allowed per person and the quantity of samples offered to a consumer at a tasting.

Consumers should be able to sample distilled spirits, beer or wine

• There is no social, scientific or legal basis for allowing tastings for wine or beer and not for distilled spirits. All alcohol beverages have one thing in common - they contain alcohol. Standard servings of distilled spirits (1.5 oz.), wine (5 oz.) and beer (12 oz.) all contain the same amount of alcohol.