ABL Launches Integrated Responsibility Initiatives; New Responsibility Program Will Focus Retailer Efforts
Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) August 22, 2005
The American Beverage Licensees (ABL) announced today the introduction of its Integrated Responsibility Initiatives (IRI) program in a move that demonstrates the continuing efforts of Â?AmericaÂ?s Beer, Wine and Spirits RetailersÂ? to legally, ethically and responsibly sell and serve beverage alcohol.
ABL will address the societal problems of alcohol abuse by incorporating the four pillars of the IRI program into ABLÂ?s support of responsible beverage alcohol retailing. Those four pillars include Community, Third-Party, Education and Legislative partnerships that will serve to focus the efforts of the ABL retail community and the beverage alcohol industry as a whole.
Â?We feel that the Integrated Responsibility Initiatives program brings together the different approaches the retail community is taking to address alcohol abuse issues,Â? said ABL Executive Director Harry Wiles. Â?It is time for retailers to strengthen their already active role in fighting these problems.Â?
ABL expects that the IRI program will serve as a blueprint for retailers across the country and the beverage associations that represent them at state and local levels. The IRI program sets forth a plan that can be adopted by individual retailers and retail associations so that they can make sure they are focusing on multiple fronts of responsible retailing and promoting those ideas.
The IRI program includes working with responsibility groups such as the Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) and the Responsible Retailing Forum (RRF), as well as The Century Council (TCC) on education programs and involving third-party perspectives and resources to address the different aspects of what it means to be a responsible retailer. A Retailer Responsibility Code is also being developed by ABL that can be adopted by communities of beverage retailers so that they can emphasize their commitment to responsibility. Additionally, ABL is working with industry groups to stress a legislative agenda that tackles issues such as hardcore drunk driving and underage drinking. These partnerships emphasize ABLÂ?s understanding that more can be accomplished by forming alliances to confront alcohol abuse problems.
Said Wiles, Â?We believe that ABLÂ?s development of this program will help in the fight against underage drinking and drunk driving. It is also indicative of the sentiment of ABL members and their commitment to responsibility.Â?
About American Beverage Licensees (ABL)
American Beverage Licensees (ABL) is the nation’s largest trade association dedicated to representing the interests of Â?America’s Beer, Wine and Spirits RetailersÂ?. ABL represents nearly 20,000 bars, restaurants, taverns, and liquor stores, including off-premise licensees in the “open” or “license” states and on-premise proprietors in markets across the country. Today, ABL has members in 348 of the 435 Congressional Districts across the nation. For more information about ABL and the Integrated Responsibility Initiatives program, please contact the ABL Office at 301-656-1494 or visit www.ablusa.org.
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