Beverage Retailers Back Bill Targeting Organized Theft

American Beverage Licensees, the trade group representing beer, wine and spirits retailers, said Wednesday that it supports a House-passed bill aimed at combating organized retail crime and urged the Senate to move quickly on the measure, warning that beverage alcohol stores are increasingly being targeted by criminal groups that steal products for resale and force merchants to spend more on security.

The statement came after the House approved the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act, or CORCA, by a vote of 348-60. The bill would expand coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as they respond to organized theft rings that have hit retailers across the country. ABL said the legislation is needed because alcohol products are high-value goods that can be resold easily, making liquor stores, wine shops and other beverage retailers especially vulnerable.

In its statement, ABL said organized retail crime has become more sophisticated and dangerous, putting employees at risk and disrupting local economies. The group said many small, family-owned businesses have had to invest heavily in cameras, alarms, locked displays and other security measures just to protect workers and customers. Those costs can be significant for independent retailers already operating on thin margins.

The group also argued that theft of beverage alcohol undermines the accountability and public safety rules built into state alcohol systems. Because alcohol sales are tightly regulated in most states, ABL said stolen products can bypass controls meant to track distribution and reduce illegal resale. The organization said stronger cooperation between law enforcement agencies is necessary to protect Main Street businesses that serve communities nationwide.

ABL thanked several lawmakers from both parties for backing the bill, including Representatives Dave Joyce of Ohio, David Valadao of California, Michael Baumgartner of Washington, Lou Correa of California, Laurel Lee of Florida, Susie Lee of Nevada, Brad Schneider of Illinois and Dina Titus of Nevada.

The House vote reflected broad bipartisan support for a federal response to organized retail theft, an issue that has drawn growing attention from retailers and law enforcement officials as criminal networks use more coordinated tactics to target stores and move stolen goods through informal resale channels. For beverage alcohol sellers, the concern is not only lost inventory but also the added expense of protecting products that can be attractive targets because of their value and ease of resale.