Hope Springs Eternal in Maryland
"Wine lovers are planning an all-out lobbying offensive in the General Assembly next year for passage of a law that would allow merchants and wineries to ship directly to Maryland consumers.
The issue has fermented for years in the legislature where a bill has been bottled up in committee, but wine producers and connoisseurs see an opportunity in the next session that begins in January. They say they have more funding and support, and they hope to draw votes by casting the bill as a pro-consumer issue that lawmakers can promote to voters before the 2010 election.
"We've got a lot of things going in our favor, and this issue will finally have its day," said Adam Borden, executive director of Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws, an organization whose membership has grown tenfold with increased outreach over the past year.
Maryland law sets up a three-tier regulatory system that requires producers to sell to wholesalers, who distribute cases of wine to retail stores. Opponents of direct-to-consumer sales say those transactions would undermine that system and make it easier for minors to obtain alcohol.
The issue has sparked a national movement and a "Free the Grapes" grass-roots coalition seeking to remove restrictions on wine shipping. At least 35 states, including Virginia, and the District of Columbia have passed legislation authorizing direct shipment of wine to consumers."
The Baltimore Sun
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-md.wine27nov...
The issue has fermented for years in the legislature where a bill has been bottled up in committee, but wine producers and connoisseurs see an opportunity in the next session that begins in January. They say they have more funding and support, and they hope to draw votes by casting the bill as a pro-consumer issue that lawmakers can promote to voters before the 2010 election.
"We've got a lot of things going in our favor, and this issue will finally have its day," said Adam Borden, executive director of Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws, an organization whose membership has grown tenfold with increased outreach over the past year.
Maryland law sets up a three-tier regulatory system that requires producers to sell to wholesalers, who distribute cases of wine to retail stores. Opponents of direct-to-consumer sales say those transactions would undermine that system and make it easier for minors to obtain alcohol.
The issue has sparked a national movement and a "Free the Grapes" grass-roots coalition seeking to remove restrictions on wine shipping. At least 35 states, including Virginia, and the District of Columbia have passed legislation authorizing direct shipment of wine to consumers."
The Baltimore Sun
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-md.wine27nov...
Comment
Badge
© 2010 Created by Steven.
You need to be a member of VinoShipperSocial to add comments!
Join VinoShipperSocial