: The "middlemen" who buy in bulk from producers and sell to retailers.
: Distilleries, breweries, and wineries.
Under this structure, alcohol must pass through three distinct levels before reaching a consumer:
: Liquor stores, bars, and restaurants that purchase from wholesalers to sell to the end consumer. How the Buying Process Works
In the United States, liquor stores primarily buy their inventory from through a regulatory framework known as the three-tier system . This system, established after Prohibition, mandates a strict separation between those who make alcohol and those who sell it to the public. The Three-Tier System