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Fresh off a seven-year career in the Virginia House of Delegates, Mike Mullin has joined the Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association as the organization's first-ever in-house counsel. Mike looks back at his time as a legislator and offers his insights on the evolving beer and alcoholic beverage industry in the Commonwealth. You'll hear how his background in law, criminal defense, and even his love for Batman have shaped his approach to his new role at VBWA. Mike's vision: Provide the best legal and business advice to ensure the success of the alcohol sector while keeping an eye on the state and national political landscape.

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We sit down with the NBWA’s David Christman, a more than 20-year veteran of the National Beer Wholesalers Association who today manages state-level affairs for the association and is a main point of contact for state wholesaler associations. They discuss a number of issues impacting every tier of the Three Tier system, from “crossover” brands (a la hard sodas and teas) to post-COVID direct-to-consumer regulations, craft beer challenges, the rise of canned cocktails and Virginia’s new self-distribution system for brewers.

The podcast is hosted by Aden Short, Vice President and Craft Brand Manager of Roanoke’s P. A. Short Distributing Co.

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Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association President Phil Boykin takes a few minutes to outline some of the legislation state lawmakers will debate in 2023.

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We sit down with Lester Jones, Chief Economist for the National Beer Wholesalers Association. Lester’s the guy industry watchers and media turn to for insights into not only the wholesale tier, but the brewer and retail levels, too. He brings us a look at what the next few months could bring beer makers, distributors, and sellers, and discusses the blurring lines in tastes and consumer preferences. Be sure to also view/download Lester’s latest industry update.

• NBWA Beer Industry Update - October 2022

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As CEO of Virginia ABC, Travis Hill oversees a statewide operation that has contributed more than $2.6 billion to Virginia’s general fund in the last five years — dollars that go to education, infrastructure, and state services.

Since coming onto the job in 2018 (and serving in a leadership capacity at ABC since 2014), Hill has led ABC’s transition from a government agency to an authority — a type of independent political subdivision of the Commonwealth. Such structure gives ABC the ability to move like a business without the burdens of government, while still leading enforcement and ensuring public safety.

Hill took some time to talk to VBWA from the new ABC headquarters in Hanover County, a sprawling 40-acre, 315,000-square-foot site (expandable to nearly 400,000 square feet) that sees every bottle of liquor sold in the Commonwealth pass through its warehouse. He discussed this new location, his upbringing, detailed the latest on enforcement hiring, and even shared his favorite spirit. 

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“Mr. Attorney General?” “General?” Or simply, “Jason?”   This week, Virginia’s 48th Attorney General Jason Miyares talked to VBWA for the first time since his January inauguration. He discussed franchise laws, Right to Work, his thoughts on where businesses are headed in Virginia…and, yes, how he prefers to be addressed. 

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Phil Boykin from VBWA kicks off the podcast with a rundown of legislative action of note from the 2022 General Assembly session.

Send us a note at info@vbwa.org if you work in the beer industry or have topic ideas for the show.

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Welcome to The Tap Line from VBWA. Subscribe to receive new episodes as they're published. Visit our website to learn more about VBWA.

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