Archive for November, 2007

Consumer Choice in Wine: “Bad Public Policy”

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

"The misconception is that it was ever about money for wholesalers. It never was. The reason [we] don't like [direct shipping] is that it's a bad public policy." Craig Wolf, Wine & Spirit Wholesalers Association. Of course it's not about money. It is just a coincidence that every pro-consumer wine shipping policy ...

Oregon Gets Retailer Wine Shipping Right— Permits Available

Thursday, November 15th, 2007

This year's one important legislative victory for consumers and retailers on the issue of direct shipment of wine came in the great state of Oregon where that state transformed itself from a reciprocity state to a "permit" state. The upshot of this change is that out-of-state retailers may apply for ...

Who Owns The Three Tier System

Monday, November 12th, 2007

Who owns the 3-tier system of wine distribution? That's right: "Owns it".  While a government-created and regulated system, the 3-tier system of wine distribution, whereby the producer sells to the distributor who then sells to retailers and restaurants, might just in fact be owned by one of the tiers. At least ...

Wine Retailers Should Send the Right Message

Wednesday, November 7th, 2007

While most wine retailers that offer their stock on line explain what states they will ship to, few of them explain why they won't ship to certain states. And if they explain, it is usually cursory note that shipping wine is prohibited by law in X. It would do the consumer ...

What’s the Justification for Anti-Free Market Wine Laws?

Monday, November 5th, 2007

In the course of doing research on how alcohol-related laws are constructed and passed in America I came across a document that I hadn't read in some time. It was an article written and published by the Washington State Bar Association entitled, "Time to Untie the House? Revisiting the Historical ...