Alabama ABC Board Administrator Mac Gipson announces retirement

Longtime Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Administrator H. Mac Gipson announced at the state agency’s board meeting held December 8, 2022 that he is retiring effective Dec. 31.

The announcement comes after managing the state agency for 14 days short of 12 years and serving four terms (16 years) in the Alabama House of Representatives where he represented Autauga and Elmore counties.

During Gipson’s tenure, gross liquor sales increased $310,248,654 from $386,638,285 (FY2010) to $696,886,939 (FY2020) and the amount of net revenues that supports essential state services increased $153,389,072 from $200,402,649 (FY2010) to $353,791,721.

“Serving our customers, providing for our citizens and representing our Governor and state have been the highest honors in my professional career,” said Gipson.

Under his leadership, Gipson led agency efforts to improve customer service, the overall shopping experience, and modernize state-owned stores and the warehouse that serves them and the close to 10,000 licensees that sell beverage alcohol in Alabama. He supervised upgrades to the agency’s data-reporting program and the point-of-sale system. He led the agency during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where not a single day of shipping, receiving or sales was missed. However, according to Gipson, his greatest achievement was his creation of programs to reduce underage and binge drinking.

“I am extremely proud of the work done by our “Under Age, Under Arrest” anti-underage drinking program and the Alabama Substance Abuse Youth Summit (SAYS),” beamed Gipson. “We’ve been able to personally visit more than 500 middle, junior high and high schools and speak directly to nearly 200,000 young people about the dangers and consequences of alcohol. And, Alabama SAYS brings together law enforcement, educators, counselors, nurses, probation officers and other service providers to combat alcohol and other illegal drug abuse. The ABC Board’s primary mission has always been to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Alabama. I’m honored to know these programs have and continue to make a difference every year.”

Mr. Gipson began in the post on January 17, 2011. As administrator, Gipson oversaw the work of more than 800 employees, who work in the central office and warehouse, and 168 retail and wholesale stores statewide. During his legislative service, Gipson was instrumental in crafting the state education budget as a member of the House education appropriations committee and was a member of the Travel and Tourism Committee.

A United States Army veteran, Gipson is the retired CEO of Gipson’s Auto Tire in Prattville and Millbrook. He is a member of American Legion Post 122, Autauga Cattleman’s Association and the Montgomery Rotary Club.

Gipson has two daughters, Meg and Jo Ella, and two sons, Bob and Hootie. He and his wife Brenda attend Grace Episcopal Church in Pike Road and reside in Montgomery.

 

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