BETHESDA, MD – MAY 4, 2018 – American Beverage Licensees (ABL) welcomes the recently-formed United Beverage Retailers of Arkansas (UBRA) as the association’s newest state affiliate member.
Bringing its growing membership roster to the national association, Arkansas’s beverage licensees now join in the efforts of promoting and supporting the retail tier of the beverage alcohol industry in Washington, DC, just as ABL and its members will lend their collective strength to beverage retailers in the “Natural State.”
“In recent years Arkansas’ beverage retail industry has seen significant changes that are contributing to an increasingly competitive market for retailers, among other challenges,” said UBRA President John Akins. “United Beverage Retailers of Arkansas was formed to bring together independent beverage retailers across the state to provide education, training and networking opportunities that enhance their ability to successfully navigate the changing landscape, and to provide its members with unified representation before legislative and regulatory bodies.”
When asked what drew UBRA to ABL, Akins noted, “through the partnership with ABL, UBRA will gain access to invaluable knowledge and resources that will allow UBRA to better serve Arkansas retailers and more effectively represent their interests.”
By joining ABL, UBRA becomes the latest organization recognized as an ABL state affiliate, growing ABL’s member ranks to 28 associations from 28 states. ABL now represents beverage alcohol retail associations in nine of 11 states in the South region of the United States, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
“UBRA was formed to advocate for beverage retailers in Arkansas and ensure fair regulation for beverage licensees. As they work to bring the voice of their members to the leaders in Little Rock, they will now have a voice to represent them in Washington, DC on a range of national issues directly impacting beverage retailers,” said ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich. “We are thrilled to add their perspective and clout to our national association as we work on issues that affect beverage licensees in all fifty states.”
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