Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services has released the 12th episode of its podcast series, Spirited Discussions. Titled “Voices from Control Systems Around the Country,” the episode features perspectives from industry experts on national alcohol trends and innovations. It also highlights the unique offerings of states that manage their own alcohol beverage systems.  

Fifteen guests representing alcohol control systems across the country join host Jocelyn Rawat to discuss how these systems balance product selection, fair pricing, and public health, while celebrating local flavor. The guests also share travel tips and signature drinks from their states and offer insights into the future of the alcohol industry and why many communities continue to support the control model.  

All states regulate alcohol through licensing and oversight. In a control system, however, the government also sells alcoholic beverages at the wholesale and/or retail level—using the revenue to fund public programs and infrastructure. Approximately 25% of the U.S. population lives in a control jurisdiction for alcohol distribution.

Listeners will also learn the answers to some fun and quirky questions, including:  

• How does Prohibition still influence today’s spirits in North Carolina? 
• Which monsters make the best drinks in West Virginia?  
• Who stole the huckleberries in Montana? 

The podcast helps residents and businesses better understand alcohol products, industry trends, and policies in Montgomery County. The podcast is posted on the department’s website at https://bit.ly/4owPLSV  

The podcast is available on several podcast platforms, including Amazon, Apple, and Spotify. Subscribe to the podcast by selecting the “follow” or “plus” button on your provider’s podcast platform.  

Listeners are encouraged to email ideas and questions for future episodes to [email protected]. 

The Office of Broadband Programs in the County’s Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions provides technical support for the ABS podcast.  

ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits for Montgomery County and operates 27 retail stores throughout the County. Additionally, ABS manages alcohol licensing, enforcement, and education for over 1,000 businesses. Generating tens of millions in net income annually, its profits are used to pay down County debt, with a large portion deposited in the general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars.   

Follow ABS on Facebook and X.  

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