The latest Spirited Advocate Podcast episode from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) features a discussion of current industry issues with DISCUS President & CEO Chris Swonger and Danny Wirtz, Vice Chair of Breakthru Beverage and Chair of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA).Â
As a fourth-generation family leader in the beverage industry, Wirtz describes the important balance of a having a long history in the business, but not letting it deter leaders from seeking innovative ideas to propel them into the future. From his perspective, the spirits industry is unlike any other in how it evolves and adapts to changing consumer demands.
Specifically, Wirtz focuses on how big names like Drizly work to support mom-and-pop retailers by increasing consumer access to their products, and the industry’s continual reinvention of products and categories. The episode’s focus on the negative impacts of tariffs is timely as the U.S. Trade Representative’s comment period on new proposed spirits tariffs is set to end this weekend.
Other policy issues covered include the importance of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, how to maintain responsibility while expanding access and the need for appropriate regulatory guardrails.
Episodes of the Spirited Advocate Podcast can be accessed on the DISCUS website here, or video episodes and teasers can be downloaded free on our Vimeo page here. The Spirited Advocate Podcast is also available on Apple podcasts here; Spotify podcasts here; and Google podcasts here.
