LOCAL RETAILES OF BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITS have a significant economic impact to the MASSACHUSETTS and national economy.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

In Massachusetts, off-premises retail sales of alcohol beverages equate almost $3 billion in total economic impact. Both “on” and “off” premises retail sales of alcohol beverages are responsible for $10.9 billion in economic activity within the state. The total direct and indirect impact of retail sales of the alcohol beverages industry are responsible for $29 billion in economic activity. i

JOBS

Local off-premises retailers of alcohol beverages employ approximately 19,000 Massachusetts residents. Establishments that sell alcohol beverages collectively employ as many as 188,900 people in Massachusetts and generate an additional 60,759 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries. Businesses selling alcohol beverages in Massachusetts pay $8.02 billion in wages and benefits each year. They are an industry that provide jobs to individuals with less than a college degree. ii

WAGES

Businesses selling alcohol in Massachusetts, along with their supplier and ancillary industries, pay $8.02 billion in wages and benefits each year. This amounts to an average of $42,000 in wages and benefits.

TAXES

All those local alcohol beverages retailers are part of an industry that contributes over $1.77 billion in state and local taxes, $97 Million in Massachusetts excise taxes, and an additional $1.84 billion in federal taxes.

NATIONAL IMPACT

America’s beer, wine and spirits retailers are an important part of the national landscape and economy that employ as many as 7.53 million people across the United States and generate an additional 2,613,916 related jobs. Beverage alcohol retailers also provide good wages and benefits and pay more than $43 billion in federal, state and local taxes every year. When including the companies and businesses that provide beverage retailers with supplies and materials, the combined monetary impact to the national economy by beer, wine and spirits retailers is over $406.94 billion.

THREE-TIER SYSTEM UPHOLDS PUBLIC SAFETY

Alcohol beverages are a controlled product that must be handled with care to prevent over consumption and underage drinking while also stopping adulterated product from reaching the market place. Local spirits retailers are often the front face of the industry as they are the last tier to handle beverage alcohol products before reaching consumers over the age of 21. This action requires great responsibility that is not taken lightly at the local store. As an integral link in the Three-Tier System of suppliers, distributors and retailers, local retailers promote the responsible use of alcohol products. Local stores also engage with municipal, state and federal officials concerning the policies and regulations that affect their businesses. They additionally strive to safely provide an unprecedented variety of products and high-quality service to their customers.

ⁱJohn Dunham & Associates. 2018 Economic Impact Study of America’s Beer, Wine and Spirits Retailers. New York, July 2016.

ⁱⁱAll jobs in off and on-premise include both independent retailers and full-service restaurants and drinking places as these businesses depend on the sale of alcohol for a substantial portion of their revenues and profits. In all other locations, this analysis examines off-premise retail alcohol beverage sales accounting for full time and equivalent jobs related solely to the sale of alcohol by independent retailers.