Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Encyclopedia
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) is a national trade association
representing producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the United States
. DISCUS was formed in 1973 by the merger of three organizations (the Bourbon Institute, the Distilled Spirits Institute, and the Licensed Beverage Industries, Inc.) that had been in existence for decades.
Members of DISCUS represent more than 80 percent of all distilled spirits brands sold in the United States. Members are: Bacardi
USA, Barton Brands
, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Brown-Forman Corporation
, Diageo
, Sidney Frank
Importing Company, Imperial Brands, Luxco
, Moet Hennessy
USA, Patrón Spirits Company, Remy Cointreau
USA, Pernod Ricard
USA and Suntory
.
and has been commended by regulators, industry watchdogs and the media.
and its consumers. The association’s team of lawyers, economists, scientists, lobbyists and public affairs professionals work to support legislation that increases adult market access to spirits products, including laws expanding Sunday spirits sales and spirits tastings. DISCUS also works to protect the distilled beverage industry from increased alcohol taxes and to reduce tariffs and trade barriers on spirits products across the globe.
. DISCUS and the Wine Institute provided unrestricted grants to fund some of Stanton Peele
's work.
and the reconstruction of the distillery built by George Washington
near his home at Mount Vernon
. Since 2000, DISCUS member companies and wholesalers have contributed over $2.1 million to rebuild the distillery, which was one of the largest whiskey distilling operations in early America.
The Mount Vernon distillery marks the beginning of the organization's American Whiskey Trail
, a DISCUS program promoting the cultural heritage and history of spirits in America. Launched in 2004, the trail also features operating distilleries and historic sites in five states connected to the history of distilling in the United States.
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
representing producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. DISCUS was formed in 1973 by the merger of three organizations (the Bourbon Institute, the Distilled Spirits Institute, and the Licensed Beverage Industries, Inc.) that had been in existence for decades.
Members of DISCUS represent more than 80 percent of all distilled spirits brands sold in the United States. Members are: Bacardi
Bacardi
Bacardi is a family-controlled spirits company, best known as a producer of rums, including Bacardi Superior and Bacardi 151. The company sells in excess of 200 million bottles per year in nearly 100 countries...
USA, Barton Brands
Barton Brands
Barton Brands, Ltd. was a company that produced many distilled spirits and liquors. In 2009, it became part of the Sazerac Company of New Orleans....
, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Brown-Forman Corporation
Brown-Forman Corporation
The Brown-Forman Corporation is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business.Some well-known brands of the corporation include Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Canadian Mist, Early Times, Old Forester, and Korbel champagne.-...
, Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
, Sidney Frank
Sidney Frank
Sidney E. Frank was an American businessman who became a billionaire through his promotion of Grey Goose vodka and Jägermeister.-Early life, family, education:...
Importing Company, Imperial Brands, Luxco
Luxco
Luxco, Inc. is a privately owned producer and marketer of distilled alcoholic beverages and liqueurs. Formerly called the David Sherman Corporation, the Company was renamed in 2006. The company was founded in 1958 in St. Louis, Missouri, by David Sherman Sr. and Paul A. Lux...
, Moet Hennessy
LVMH
LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton S.A., better known as LVMH, is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate headquartered in Paris, Île-de-France, France. The company was formed after the 1987 merger of fashion house Louis Vuitton with Moët Hennessy, a company formed after the 1971 merger...
USA, Patrón Spirits Company, Remy Cointreau
Rémy Cointreau
Rémy Cointreau is a French alcohol manufacturer that produces cognac, liqueurs, spirits and champagne. The company is a result of a 1990-1991 merger between Rémy Martin and Cointreau.- Brands :...
USA, Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is a French company that produces distilled beverages. The company's eponymous products, Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis, are both anise-flavoured liqueurs and are often referred to simply as Pernod or Ricard...
USA and Suntory
Suntory
is a Japanese brewing and distilling company group. Established in 1899, it is one of the oldest companies in the distribution of alcoholic beverages in Japan. Its business has expanded to other fields, and the company now offers everything from soft drinks to sandwich chains...
.
Standards
The Council developed a set of voluntary guidelines that they suggest for the spirits industry and council members to follow. The code provides for a review board that reviews complaints about advertising and marketing materials in the marketplace. In 2003, the DISCUS began issuing semiannual public reports describing the review board complaints and decisions. DISCUS' approach to self-regulation has been pointed to as a model by the Federal Trade CommissionFederal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
and has been commended by regulators, industry watchdogs and the media.
Lobbying efforts
DISCUS lobbies on behalf of the spirits industry on policy and legislative issues that impact the hospitality industryHospitality industry
The hospitality industry consists of broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, restaurants, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and additional fields within the tourism industry. The hospitality industry is a several billion dollar industry...
and its consumers. The association’s team of lawyers, economists, scientists, lobbyists and public affairs professionals work to support legislation that increases adult market access to spirits products, including laws expanding Sunday spirits sales and spirits tastings. DISCUS also works to protect the distilled beverage industry from increased alcohol taxes and to reduce tariffs and trade barriers on spirits products across the globe.
Alcohol abuse prevention
The spirits industry has initiated and supported responsibility programs to promote alcohol responsibly and moderation. DISCUS developed an educational tool kit and distributed it to more than 3,000 health professionals.Funding of academics
DISCUS funds a website maintained by SUNY Potsdam sociologist David J. HansonDavid J. Hanson
David Justin Hanson is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the State University of New York in Potsdam, New York. He has researched the subject of alcohol and drinking for over 30 years, beginning with his PhD dissertation investigation, and has written widely on the subject.Hanson is often...
. DISCUS and the Wine Institute provided unrestricted grants to fund some of Stanton Peele
Stanton Peele
Stanton Peele, Ph. D., J.D., is a licensed psychologist, attorney, practicing psychotherapist and the author of books and articles on the subject of alcoholism, addiction and addiction treatment.His awards have included:1989...
's work.
Cultural heritage
DISCUS has launched several initiatives to preserve the cultural history of distilling and spirits in the United States, most notably in the creation of the American Whiskey TrailAmerican Whiskey Trail
The American Whiskey Trail is an initiative of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States that promotes the history and cultural heritage of distilled beverages in the United States.-History of whiskey in the United States:...
and the reconstruction of the distillery built by George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
near his home at Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
. Since 2000, DISCUS member companies and wholesalers have contributed over $2.1 million to rebuild the distillery, which was one of the largest whiskey distilling operations in early America.
The Mount Vernon distillery marks the beginning of the organization's American Whiskey Trail
American Whiskey Trail
The American Whiskey Trail is an initiative of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States that promotes the history and cultural heritage of distilled beverages in the United States.-History of whiskey in the United States:...
, a DISCUS program promoting the cultural heritage and history of spirits in America. Launched in 2004, the trail also features operating distilleries and historic sites in five states connected to the history of distilling in the United States.