Founded in 1935, the Tavern League of Wisconsin is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization which also has a charitable arm, the Tavern League of Wisconsin Foundation which is a 501(c)(3). With over 5,000 members, the Tavern League of Wisconsin is the largest trade association in the United States to exclusively represent the interests of licensed beverage retailers. The TLW is comprised of 70 local leagues representing every county in the state of Wisconsin.
In 2016, the industry as a whole was responsible for as much as $14 billion in total economic activity in Wisconsin while creating over 120,000 jobs. Not only does the alcohol beverage retail industry create jobs, it also generates sizeable tax revenues. In Wisconsin, the industry and its employees pay over $910.03 million in taxes including property, income and sales taxes.