ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec 04, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/

December 5, 2008, marks 75 years since Prohibition was officially repealed in the United States with the ratification of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. On December 5, 1933, a 3/4 majority of states needed to ratify the 21st Amendment was reached when Utah adopted the 21st Amendment. It not only officially ended national Prohibition which began with the 18th Amendment in 1919; the 21st Amendment also established the effective, state-based system of alcohol regulation that today works to efficiently provide American consumers with an unparalleled choice and variety of beer.

“This anniversary is a great time to recognize the success of the past 75 years of effective, state-based alcohol regulation since the ratification of the 21st Amendment,” said NBWA President Craig Purser. “A ‘one size fits all’ approach to alcohol regulation during Prohibition was a failure. The 21st Amendment allows individual states to regulate alcohol as their citizens see fit.”

“Today, American consumers of legal drinking age have access to nearly 13,000 labels of beer from small regional microbrews to the largest multinational labels – all delivered through a transparent and accountable alcohol distribution system,” continued Purser. “The American system of alcohol distribution, which tracks products from the time they leave the brewer or importer until the time they reach store shelves or bar taps, is the gold standard for transporting products to consumers.” (more…)