{"id":159077,"date":"2026-09-11T15:25:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T19:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedailypour.com\/?p=159077"},"modified":"2026-09-11T15:25:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T19:25:02","slug":"southern-glazers-pays-doj-12-5-million-bribery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedailypour.com\/news\/southern-glazers-pays-doj-12-5-million-bribery\/","title":{"rendered":"Major Alcohol Distributor Southern Glazer\u2019s Agrees to Pay DOJ $12.5 Million to Resolve Bribery Probe"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Southern

In this photo illustration, a smartphone with the logo of US company Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits LLC is seen on screen in front of business website. (Photo by Timon Schneider \/ SOPA Images\/Sipa USA)<\/p><\/div>\n

Southern Glazer\u2019s Wine & Spirits has agreed to pay $12.5 million to resolve a federal investigation into improper payments to alcohol retailer employees and the use of false invoices to conceal those payments, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.<\/p>\n

The nationwide alcohol distributor entered into a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau also agreed to take no action against the company for the conduct covered by the investigation.<\/p>\n

The investigation centered on conduct involving Southern Glazer\u2019s employees and executives who provided improper payments and other benefits to employees of alcohol retailers, including chain grocery stores, in California and elsewhere. The payments were connected to the promotion, purchase, placement and maintenance of certain alcohol products distributed by Southern Glazer\u2019s.<\/p>\n

According to the DOJ, the scheme involved cash, prepaid gift cards, flights, golf trips, resort stays and luxury goods. Third-party vendors were used to generate false invoices intended to conceal the payments, while several Southern Glazer\u2019s executives based in California, including vice presidents, were directly involved in the conduct and the falsification of documents.<\/p>\n

Southern Glazer\u2019s said in a statement<\/a> that the investigation primarily concerned activities that occurred several years ago. The company said it cooperated fully with authorities and accepted responsibility for the conduct and compliance lapses acknowledged in the non-prosecution agreement.<\/p>\n

The agreement requires Southern Glazer\u2019s to implement additional measures to strengthen compliance with federal and state laws governing bribery and other improper payments. The company also agreed to continue cooperating with the government in related criminal prosecutions involving current or former employees.<\/p>\n

The resolution follows criminal charges brought in March against five former employees of an alcohol distribution company in California over an alleged scheme to bribe grocery store alcohol buyers and conceal the payments with false and forged financial records. A Napa winery salesman was also charged in connection with the investigation.<\/p>\n

Southern Glazer\u2019s said its compliance investments in recent years have included reorganizing and expanding its compliance staff, implementing new procedures and policies, and increasing monitoring, auditing and internal enforcement. The company said its compliance program has also been aligned with factors outlined in DOJ guidance for evaluating corporate compliance programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have always had an industry-leading compliance program, and we have redoubled our efforts to make our compliance program an example for any Company, within our industry or otherwise,\u201d Southern Glazer\u2019s President and CEO Wayne E. Chaplin said.<\/p>\n

The company said the conduct involved former employees who circumvented compliance controls and policies, including through fraudulent documentation submitted by third parties.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis conduct does not reflect Southern Glazer’s values, culture, or standards and it will not be tolerated,\u201d Chaplin said. \u201cOur success has always been built on winning the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n

U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian said the conduct affected competition in California\u2019s alcohol market.<\/p>\n

\u201cSouthern Glazer\u2019s employees tried to distort the wine and spirits market in California through bribes and other improper conduct and in the end it was the consumer that lost out,\u201d Missakian said.<\/p>\n

TTB Assistant Administrator for Field Operations Anthony P. Gledhill said the case also highlights the responsibility of alcohol industry members for actions carried out through third-party affiliates.<\/p>\n

Southern Glazer\u2019s said the $12.5 million payment is part of the non-prosecution agreement, which also includes other obligations over the next two years.<\/p>\n

\n Scan any liquor or NA bottle to see all expert reviews in one place with the free Daily Pour app<\/a>. Download today!\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Southern Glazer\u2019s Wine & Spirits has agreed to pay $12.5 million to resolve a federal investigation into improper payments to alcohol retailer employees and the use of false invoices to conceal those payments, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday. The nationwide alcohol distributor entered into a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors. The Alcohol and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":159078,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6340],"tags":[4116,2621],"class_list":["post-159077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-industry-news","tag-southern-glazers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t