Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
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The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) is the national trade association representing producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the United States. In 1973, DISCUS was formed by the merger of three organizations—the Bourbon Institute, the Distilled Spirits Institute and the Licensed Beverage Industries, Inc.—that had been in existence for decades.
Members of DISCUS represent more than 80 percent of all distilled spirits brands sold in the United States. Members are: Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Barton Incorporated; Brown-Forman Corporation; Diageo; Sidney Frank Importing Co., Inc.; Future Brands LLC; Luxco, Inc.; Moet Hennessy USA, Inc.; Remy Cointreau USA.; Pernod Ricard USA and Suntory International Corp.
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[edit] Economic Contribution
The distilled spirits industry is a major contributor to the nation's economy generating more than $100 billion in U.S. economic activity annually. Over 3.8 million people are employed in the U.S. in the production, distribution and sale of beverage alcohol.
[edit] Protecting the Hospitality Industry
DISCUS lobbies on behalf of the spirits industry on policy and legislative issues that impact the hospitality industry and its consumers. The association’s team of lawyers, economists, scientists, lobbyists and public affairs professionals work to support legislation that increases adult market access to spirits products including laws expanding Sunday spirits sales and spirits tastings. DISCUS also works to protect the hospitality industry from increased alcohol taxes and to reduce tariffs and trade barriers on spirits products across the globe.
[edit] Commitment to Social Responsibility
The Distilled Spirits Council is the keeper of the Code of Responsible Practices for Beverage Alcohol Advertising and Marketing, a set of voluntary guidelines that the spirits industry has adhered to for more than 70 years. The Code provides for a Code Review Board that reviews complaints about advertising and marketing materials in the marketplace. In 2003, the DISCUS Code implemented transparency, by issuing semiannual public reports in 2005 detailing the complaints and the Code Review Board decisions. Throughout the decades, there has been 100 percent compliance by DISCUS members with the Board’s decisions. DISCUS’ approach to self-regulation has been pointed to as a model by the Federal Trade Commission and has been commended by regulators, industry watchdogs and the media.
[edit] Fighting Alcohol Abuse
The spirits industry has initiated and supported responsibility programs throughout the decades to encourage adults who choose to drink to do so responsibly and in moderation, and to fight all forms of alcohol abuse. As part of these efforts, DISCUS has developed and distributed an Educational Tool Kit on Beverage Alcohol Consumption to more than 3,000 health professionals. Additionally, The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by America’s leading distillers and dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking, has developed award-winning programs for parents, teachers, colleges, communities and law enforcement agencies nationwide.
[edit] Cultural Heritage
[edit] George Washington’s Distillery
DISCUS has undertaken a special effort to preserve the rich cultural history of distilling in America through the reconstruction and promotion of George Washington’s Distillery. Since 2000, DISCUS member companies and wholesalers have contributed over $2.1 million to Historic Mount Vernon to rebuild the distillery, which was the largest whiskey distilling operation in early America. Britain’s Prince Andrew cut the ribbon at the dedication ceremony in the Fall of 2006 and the distillery is now open to the public from April through October.
[edit] American Whiskey Trail
In 2004, DISCUS launched the American Whiskey Trail, an educational journey into the cultural heritage and history of spirits in America. The journey begins at George Washington’s Distillery at Historic Mount Vernon, the gateway to the American Whiskey Trail, and also features famous operating distilleries and historic sites in five states connected to the history of distilling in our country.
[edit] Promoting Spirits Abroad
Since 2005, DISCUS has hosted spirits seminars and tastings in foreign countries in partnership with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service on promotional activities to encourage the expansion of commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products. To date, spirits promotions have taken place in China, Bulgaria, Romania, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Chile and Brazil.
