Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) administrator Curtis Stewart apologized on Friday for recent liquor distribution issues affecting bars, restaurants, and package stores across the state due to ABC’s recent transition to a new warehouse in Montgomery.
1819 News reported on Thursday that alcohol distribution issues have led to a lack of product availability at ABC stores in recent months.
Mindy Hanan, president and CEO of the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association, told 1819 News that several businesses have contacted her in the last couple of months about the lack of product availability at ABC wholesale stores.
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Stewart responded to the complaints on Friday.
“We understand the frustration this has caused for our retail and on-premise customers, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience,” Stewart told Alabama’s 42.
Alabama is one of 17 alcohol control states. Restaurants, bars and package stores in Alabama purchase liquor and spirits through ABC wholesale stores. The ABC Board recently completed construction and moved into a large new warehouse in Montgomery. The ABC Board’s old warehouse was closed on September 28.
Suzanne Cisneros, director of operations at Dread River Distilling in Birmingham, told Alabama’s 42 that some of the distillery’s products have been sitting in ABC’s previous warehouse for 11 weeks without moving.
“I don’t yet see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t see our products moving yet, and the longer it goes, the more revenue we’re losing,” Cisneros told the outlet.
State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) said on X on Thursday it was “time to privatize” ABC.
Typical government inefficiency… Time to privatize.
https://t.co/RFC5H2PbxK
— Senator Arthur Orr (@SenatorAOrr) November 5, 2026
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