Not a good time of year for alcohol distribution problems

According to Mindy Hanan, President and CEO of the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association (ARHA), hospitality businesses across the state have reported severe difficulty obtaining standard inventory from ABC wholesale outlets. The supply shortages are not limited to rare or specialty items; instead, they are directly impacting high-volume, everyday staple brands.

“I’ve had calls from multiple restaurants and hotels, saying they’re having difficulty getting alcohol at the wholesale stores,” Hanan told 1819 News recently. “It’s not rare things. It’s run-of-the-mill things like Tito’s, Ketel One, Jack Daniel’s, pretty much regular brands that they use every day.”

The distribution breakdown arrives at a critical time for Alabama's hospitality sector, coinciding with college football season and the run-up to the winter holiday period. Because many signature drinks and menu offerings rely on these basic spirits, establishments are frequently unable to fulfill customer orders, undermining hospitality operations during one of the most profitable times of the year.

Alabama operates as one of 17 alcoholic beverage control states, requiring all licensed restaurants, sports bars, and package stores to purchase liquor exclusively through state-managed ABC wholesale stores. ABC Board Administrator Curtis Stewart cited operational challenges associated with transitioning to a new central warehouse in Montgomery as the source of the delay, which resulted in a backlog of roughly 50,000 cases during a period of peak seasonal demand.

For island-area businesses, inventory flow heavily relies on established warehouse operations along Canal Road in Orange Beach. To further support the region's commercial growth, new storage and distribution infrastructure is also being developed further east along the same road, reflecting ongoing efforts to streamline local supply chains for coastal venues.