Today, the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association released their biennial Beer Serves America report on the economic importance of the nation's beer industry. Bars, restaurants, sporting events and concerts are critical to Georgia’s economy and the U.S. economy at large, particularly as the country looks to recover and safely reopen. The beer industry plays a key role in supporting jobs in the hospitality industry as well as jobs in farming, manufacturing, construction, transportation, and a myriad of other sectors.

The study found the U.S. beer industry supports more than 53,869 good paying jobs in Georgia and contributes more than $8.6B to the state’s economy. Brewers and beer distributors directly employ nearly 210,000 Americans, and every brewing job supports another 31 jobs in other industries, including farming, transportation and hospitality. The beer industry represents 1.6% of the United States' gross domestic product.

"As our nation builds back from the pandemic, we look forward to returning to bars, restaurants, stadiums and concerts. Gathering with friends and family to enjoy a cold beer supports the hard-working men and women across our nation whose jobs rely on a vibrant beer economy," said Jim McGreevy, President and CEO of the Beer Institute. “Last year, Congress came together in a bipartisan effort to prevent the federal excise tax on beer from increasing. Maintaining the current tax rate on the beer industry at the state and federal level will help support American jobs at a time of significant economic uncertainty. Today’s Beer Serves America economic report shows beer is an integral part of our American economy and culture, and we take pride in this contribution."

The beer industry supports more than 70,000 manufacturing jobs through the production of cans and bottles to kegs and packaging equipment. The industry’s largest impact on employment is in the retail sector, where it supports more than 800,000 American jobs as beer is sold both on- and off-premises, in grocery stores, liquor stores, convenience stores, bars, restaurants, stadiums and other retail establishments.

“The beer industry reflects the economy as a whole – both have suffered this past year, but are showing resilience in the face of adversity,” said Craig Purser, President and CEO of the National Beer Wholesalers Association. “As our country continues to recover and reopen, Americans will be enjoying beers with friends and family at bars, restaurants, sporting events and other gatherings, supporting the more than two million jobs that rely on the beer industry. Beer helps bring people together and it will help drive the activity to fuel our economic recovery.”

The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, Infogroup, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

For more information about the Beer Serves America report, Beer Institute, or NBWA, click the corresponding links.