Just Say No To Bill RU 5043

On April 15th 2010 RU 5034 a new bill was introduced into Congress which if passed will radically change the way wineries across the country and our state - particularly those right here in Douglas County- do business. And this radical change if implemented will not be good for our winery friends or for our region.

The Bill challenges current law which does not allow individual states to discriminate between in- and out-of-state wineries in matters of direct-to-consumer wine shipping. Direct-to-consumer wine shipping is now legal to varying degrees in 37 states and the District of Columbia.  One winery industry insider describe the proposed bill as  “the most onerous consumer wine law since the passage of the 18th Amendment and the onset of Prohibition”. The draft bill was written by the National Beer Wholesalers’ Association and the current bill RU5034 is virtually identical.  It is supported by the Wine & Spirits WHOLESALERS of America (WSWA) as well. These two organizations want to change the hard fought battles on the part of consumers to receive direct shipment of wines from small out of state wineries. Most recently, court decisions have been made in favor of the consumer but this bill would change that. If passed, HR 5034 will allow for new regulations to be put in place as well as reinstate old regulations on direct shipments of wine. It will also prevent any legal challenges to those regulatory barriers.

The alcohol wholesale associations are touting the legislation as necessary to protect children and minors from access to alcohol.  But to anyone well versed in the ways of purchasing alcohol on line or over the phone this is a ridiculous argument and a very obvious  ploy to guarantee a permanent monopoly for all alcohol to be distributed by their members.  All alcohol including wine, shipped through the US Postal Service, Fed Ex, UPS or any other shipping company requires a signature of someone 21 or over.  John Sasano wine blogger from California wine explains it best,”No youth ever ordered premium wine online, paid by credit card, waited a week for delivery, and presented a legal ID at delivery; if a youth were attempting to obtain alcohol, they would show up at the local convenience store with a $20 bill and ask older shoppers to buy them a 12 pack of Budweiser – instant gratification, realistic, real, no ID required. The “justification” for the bill is a charade. This is nothing more than bought and paid for politicians from both parties doing the bidding of their contributors.”

Many small, family owned wineries and that includes all of the wineries here in the Umpqua Valley rely on shipping directly to their customers to stay in business.This legislation has correctly been called anti-consumer and anti-small business by many. And it is not just the wineries that will suffer. Ending direct shipment of wine means consumers will no longer have the opportunity to enjoy limited release wines from small family owned wineries as most wholesalers don’t bother with small case lots of handcrafted artisan wines.  Consumer choice will be severely limited and support of the country's small artisan wineries will be next to impossible.

So please write or call your local representatives and tell them you oppose RU 5034.  And tell your friends to do the same. The health of our family owned wineries and our local economy depend on it!