What is the primary purpose of the 3-tier system in the US alcoholic beverage industry?

The primary purpose of the 3-tier system in the US alcoholic beverage industry is to facilitate legal separation between manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. This system was established after the repeal of Prohibition to prevent the monopolistic practices that were prevalent before Prohibition, where manufacturers could have too much control over the market. By separating these three tiers, the system promotes fairness in the marketplace, ensures responsible alcohol distribution, and allows for effective regulation and taxation of alcoholic beverages.

This structure enables each tier to operate independently, which helps maintain a level of accountability and oversight. Manufacturers focus on production, distributors handle the logistics and distribution of products to retailers, and retailers sell the products directly to consumers. The separation also helps prevent conflicts of interest and reduces the likelihood of unethical behavior, such as bribery or coercion, that could occur if manufacturers had direct access to consumers.

While the other options address aspects of the alcohol industry, they do not capture the primary intent of the 3-tier system. Streamlining brewery operations refers more to internal business practices rather than the regulatory framework. Likewise, separating different types of alcohol sales does not encompass the broader objective of legal and operational delineation among the different players in the industry. Lastly, regulating international alcohol sales is beyond the scope