The Manchurian Candidate Comes to Wine & Spirits

Forget "Regulatory Capture"...Now we are in the realm of "Regulatory Ownership"

You’d think it would be enough for wholesalers to essentially control the fate of wine and spirit producers and the inventories of retailers due to their unearned place of privilege within the three-tier system. I mean, isn’t it enough that the alcohol regulatory systems in nearly every state heavily favor the economic power of the wholesalers? Isn’t it enough that state franchise laws in state after state give wholesalers license to own the fate of small craft brands in perpetuity?

Apparently, all this isn’t quite enough for the State of Virginia.

According to an announcement by Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin, Dale Farino has been appointed the new CEO of the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Authority. Who is Mr. Dale Farino?

Dale is the former President of the Virginia Wine Wholesalers Association from 2019-2023. He is the former VP of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and President of Breakthru Beverage of Virginia, a branch of one of the largest wholesalers in the country. Before his recent appointment to run the Virginia alcohol regulatory agency, Farino was the Vice Chair of the Virginia ABC Board of Directors for a couple of months.