Retailer Wine Shipping Update – June 2017

No doubt you are aware that there are still state laws that prevent wine drinkers from receiving wine from out-of-state.

45 states allow wine shipments from out-of-state WINERIES.

However, only 14 states allow wine shipments  from out-of-state WINE STORES and RETAILERS

Below are the only states that allow consumers to receive wine shipments from out-of-state wine stores, Internet retailers, wine auction houses and wine-of-the-month clubs (all retailers):

Alaska
California
District of Columbia
Idaho
Louisiana
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Oregon
Virginia
West Virginia
Wyoming

Below is a downloadable image that outlines which states still prohibit shipments from out of state wine stores and retailers. Click on the image to download.

This year,6 bills were introduced in 6 states that would have legalized shipments of wine to consumers from out-of-state retailers.

Alabama (SB 329)
Connecticut (SB 1050)
Kentucky (HB 298)
New York (S 5330)
Rhode Island (HB 5350)
Texas (HB 2291)

Of these 6 bills, one remains active, the New York legislation, which, if passed, would create a reciprocal law allowing New York consumers to receive shipments of wine from retailers in states that allow shipments of wine from New York retailers. NAWR supported and/or helped introduce all the bill listed above.

OPPOSITION TO RETAILER WINE SHIPPING
In every state where retailer shipments are illegal, local wholesalers and most local wine retailers have used their political influence and their deep pockets to persuade state legislators to protect them from competition by denying consumers in those states the right to access the wines they want. It’s that simple. 

At the committee hearing in Texas on HB 2291 on May 1, representatives of Texas package stores and wholesalers publicly stated to committee members they opposed the direct shipping bill in order to receive  protection from competition. The bill was killed by the Committee chair who did not let it come to a vote. In his past three elections, Committee Chair John Kuempel has received more than $63,000 from Texas beer and wine wholesalers and package stores. The sponsor of the HB 2291, Representative Matt Rinaldi, has promised to introduce the bill in the next Texas Legislative Session

CONSEQUENCES OF BANS ON RETAILER-TO-CONSUMER  WINE SHIPMENTS
-In the U.S., only retailers are permitted to sell imported wines. When states ban shipments from out-of-state wine retailers, they ban consumers from receiving any shipments of any imported wines.

-States leave millions of potential tax dollars uncollected by banning shipments from out-of-state retailers

-Consumers’ access to wines is diminished considerably when states ban shipments from out-of-state retailers. In any given state only a small fraction of all wines available in the American marketplace are available in the state and those rare wines that are available in the state sell out quickly, yet are still available from retailers in other states. Wines sold directly from the winery to consumers often sell out at the winery, but are still available at retailers around the country and at auction.

WINEFREEDOM.ORG

WineFreedom.org is a website produced and supported by the National Association of Wine Retailers, consumers, and free market advocates. The site provides wine consumers across the country with background on the wine shipping issue and the opportunity to easily contact their state representatives and ask for changes to the archaic and protectionist policies that ban consumers and America’s specialty wine retailers from doing business legally.

Currently, at WineFreedom.org consumers in any state may sign up for Action Alerts so they can keep informed of wine shipping-related changes in their state. New Yorkers using WineFreedom.org are being urged to send letters to their state representatives asking them to support S5330 /A5991, which will expand New York wine lovers’ ability to access the wines they want.