From Daniel Dye
Public Information Specialist
Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
(MONTGOMERY, AL – Sept. 23, 2020) The Center for Alcohol Policy (CAP) announced that Millbrook resident and Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Licensing and Compliance Division Director Summer Childers is the recipient of the organization’s 8th annual Leadership in Alcohol Regulation Award.
The annual award recognizes a specific program, agency or person who oversees the alcohol industry and promotes public safety, was presented virtually Sept. 23.
She said the award is a reflection of the positive efforts of everyone who works at the state agency.
“I think, as a whole, the agency really puts its best foot forward in trying to do everything fairly and accurately,” she said. “The work of ABC really is a group effort.”
Childers has a degree in criminal justice and came to ABC because she wanted to work with an enforcement agency.
One of the first calls Childers received 10 years ago at ABC opened her eyes to how important the work of ABC is to Alabama residents.
“That call was from a lady who’s child had gotten killed in a drunk driving accident after someone sold her minor child alcohol,” she said. “At that point it really hit me how important this agency was and what we do is and how terrible it is when kids get access to alcohol and what can happen.
“You just do not think about those things until you’re in that capacity where you see and hear from people where a tragedy such as this has happened. Hearing the heartbreak in that woman’s voice on the phone that day really clicked it with me what we do is important.”
She said being a licensing and compliance director is not always an easy job, but she approaches it from a lens of being fair and balanced.
“I try to be fair with everyone while enforcing the regulations,” she said. “I think you cannot be afraid to give an unpopular opinion, be fair with everyone and enforce regulations equally across the board. That is what I expect if I was a licensee.”
Beyond protecting minors from easy access to alcohol and tobacco, Childers said the family atmosphere at ABC keeps her motivated.
“We have a great group of people in this building – period,” she said. “I have a great group of employees that work in the Licensing and Compliance Division. We also have a great administrator and assistant administrator. We’ve been very lucky here to have such a good group. It is a very family-like atmosphere.”
CAP is a 501c(3) organization whose mission is to educate policymakers, regulators and the public about alcohol, its uniqueness and regulation.
About Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board:
Created by the Alabama Legislature in 1937, the Alabama ABC Board controls alcoholic beverages through distribution, licensing, enforcement and education. The Board operates 174 retail stores that sell alcohol to consumers. Also, the Board conducts a school-based, anti-underage drinking awareness program – Under Age, Under Arrest – that has reached approximately 150,000 middle, junior high, high school and college students.
