2018 Best Practices Awards

PLCB Deputy Communications Director Heidi Geist says that since the inspections began on Jan . 1 ( through Aug . 17 , 2018 ), 81 inspections have been completed . While most licensees passed inspection , 21 licenses were suspended because of compliance deficiencies ; all 21 have since remedied the deficiencies and passed re-inspection .

“ It is the PLCB ’ s hope that in the interest of being responsible community partners , licensees will use the LCP to self-assess and ensure compliance with license requirements ,” says Tisha Albert , Director of Regulatory Affairs . “ Development and introduction of this program demonstrated the PLCB ’ s ability to react swiftly , even under pressure – and with no additional financial or personnel resources – and its willingness to engage stakeholders in the interest of fair and effective regulatory efforts .” •

BEST ON-PREMISE INNOVATION Alabama ABC Board

BY KYLE SWARTZ

These products included bitters , aperitifs , digestifs , aged rums , gins and mezcals . While their overall volume may be low , each was essential for bars and cocktail enthusiasts in Birmingham . Acknowledging this need , the Alabama ABC agreed to carry the identified items in the wholesale store , and then make them available by the bottle to all licensees in the Birmingham area .

The idea to support a regional cocktail scene first came from NABCA COO David Jackson . He called Brian Rodgers , Alabama ABC director of product management .

“ I of course loved the idea and wanted Alabama to be the pilot to the program ,” Rodgers recalls . “ The original concept was to gather a group of bartenders from restaurants and bars in the state , and sit down with them to see if there were products that they wanted to work with but didn ’ t think they could get , or did not need a full case of .”

Rodgers , Jackson and Birmingham USBG officers convened on the subject . Naturally the officers were supportive . They left the meeting with a task : pick out the 25 must-have items , products that they could now obtain quicker and more consistently .

“ You have to remember that most listing meetings are strictly

with the state , the supplier and the supplier ’ s broker ,” Rodgers explains . “ Any licensee can call and request a case of product to order and we will locate it and order it . They do have to purchase the whole case . So the ability was there for these licensees to order it before . But this program allows them to purchase by the bottle and not have to wait an additional six to eight weeks to get it when they need it .”

On Alabama ’ s side , it took about three months to acquire the products and set up internal distribution . The next six months were a “ test ” that tracked results , Rodgers says . In that time the program generated $ 83,000 in additional sales with the 49 participating accounts . It sold 2,314 additional bottles , with an average of 47 additional bottles per account , or an additional eight bottles per account per month . “ So far , [ participants ] have been purchasing the product and are really supporting the program ,” Rodgers says . There were logistical challenges . As chosen products came in , the state shipped them out — but sometimes it was difficult getting these items into Alabama in the first place . Reaching suppliers was not always easy .

NABCA helped locate supplier contacts , Rodgers says . “ We made it easy as well ,” he adds , “ by selecting several wholesale stores across the state , and once the product arrived there , we updated the USBG officers and they rolled out the information to their members .”

Up next , the Alabama ABC plans to meet again with the Birmingham USBG to review the sales data and see if there are items they want to add or swap . •

24 StateWays | www . stateways . com | September / October 2018