Alcohol distribution in Nev. signals economic recovery
By Adelaide Chen, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Credit tourism — more alcohol is flowing across Nevada.
Compared with five years ago, distribution of wines increased 18.2 percent, spirits went up 14.8 percent and draft beer 10 percent, all in gallons, according to the state’s taxation department.
“I can guarantee you anytime you see big swings like that, very rarely is it occurring by local consumption. People don’t just change their drinking habits that dramatically,” said David Ozgo, senior vice president of economic and strategic analysis for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
Statewide, an average of 7.6 million gallons of alcohol per month were distributed in 2015 – the best so far in the years following the recession – but fell 164,000 gallons short of the pre-recession peak in 2007, based on state taxation figures.