Arizona’s wine and spirits industry pours $2.8 billion into the state economy

(BizJournals) - A toast to boozy business. Arizona’s wine and spirits industry pours $2.8 billion into the state economy, according to a new report from the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.

Of that, the industry has a direct impact of $1.1 billion, with the remaining $1.7 billion spread across other industries such as transportation, retail, agriculture, travel and others.

Directly, Arizona’s wine and spirits industry employs 15,500 with more than vast majority employed by retailers (14,190) and another 1,180 at distributors. Wineries and distilleries employed the remaining 140.

Those 15,510 employees translate into $454.9 million in total wages for the industry.

Beyond wages and economic impact, the modern wine and spirits industry in Arizona generates a total of $339 million in state business and consumer taxes.

Eighty years ago this week Arizona approved the 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition and opened the floodgates for alcohol sales.

Along with a snapshot of Arizona’s boozy impact, the WSWA released similar reports recently on other states such as Nevada, Tennessee and Alabama.