The National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, which supports the US’s control states, has elected an official from Mississippi as its chair-elect, with a view to assuming the chair next year.
Chris Graham, the commissioner of the state’s department of revenue, will move into the post next month. According to the organisation’s procedures, Graham (below) will be chair-elect for 12 months before assuming the chair.
A member of NABCA’s board since 2020, Graham started in his current role in Mississippi at the same time. The revenue department collects taxes in the state and “operates as the wholesale distributor of alcoholic beverages”. He will replace Kathie Durbin, Montgomery County’s alcohol beverage services director, who is moving to the chair having served her 12 months as chair-elect.
“For 87 years, NABCA has supported states by helping them navigate the complexities of alcohol regulation and distribution within their borders and by promoting responsible and efficient systems,” said Graham. “Additionally, NABCA has an important responsibility to support efforts in protecting public health and safety.
“I’m looking forward to continuing our success of these objectives and toward strengthening collaboration among our member jurisdictions to address emerging challenges in the beverage alcohol landscape.”
Speaking to Global Drinks Intel earlier this month, NABCA’s CEO, Neal Insley, highlighted the size of the US’s control states mechanism for handling beverage alcohol. “The control system accounts for roughly 25% of the market,” he said, “and the US is still the largest market in the world for spirits.”
