Direct Shipping Restrictions from Congress

Brewed by Dave on June 1st, 2010

Rep. Howard Coble is doing his best to stop Wine and Beer shipments from wholesalers to consumers

Great article in Wine Spectator describes H.R. 5034 (aka The CARE Act)

Lines are being drawn in Congress in the fight over direct-to-consumer wine shipping. In the six weeks since H.R. 5034, also known as the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act of 2010 or the CARE Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives, more than 100 congressmen have signed on as co-sponsors, while others are aligning in opposition. While it’s unclear if the bill will pass or even come to the House floor, supporters and opponents are lobbying hard.

The bill’s leading proponents—the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA)—are arguing that the bill is necessary to protect states’ abilities to regulate alcohol sales. Those who oppose it, including winery owners, brewers, distillers and consumer groups, allege that the bill will end direct shipping of alcoholic beverages and provide government-sponsored protection of wholesalers’ turf. They’re urging wine lovers to tell Congress that the bill would hurt small businesses and restrict consumer choice.

This act would restrict BEER just as much as it would wine sales

Introduced on April 15 by Congressman William Delahunt (D-Mass.), the CARE Act, if passed, would erect large hurdles for anyone attempting to challenge a state’s wine-shipping laws through litigation by giving the 21st Amendment, which grants states the right to control alcohol sales, precedence over the Commerce Clause, the section in Article One that prohibits states from discriminating between in- and out-of-state commerce. The NBWA made the initial lobbying push for the bill. An early draft of the bill, obtained by Wine Spectator, was written by the NBWA’s staff and closely mirrors the language of the version now on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.), who introduced the bill to the floor alongside Delahunt, has accepted $27,500 from the NBWA since 2005.

Please read the COMPLETE ARTICLE

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com