Nix bill that would ban wine shipments
A bill that would impede the choices of wine consumers all across Michigan passed the Michigan House with only a handful of dissenting votes.
House Bill 6644 now goes to the Senate, where it should die a quick death in its present form. Lawmakers do not work for the state's Liquor Control Commission or alcohol wholesalers, they work for the people.
And, it's clearly in the public interest to give consumers more choices when it comes to wine, which just happens to be a modern economic success story in this state.
Stung by a federal court ruling that struck down the state's discriminatory practices on direct shipment of wine to consumers, wholesalers and government bureaucrats are engaged in a rank power play.
Since Michigan can't bar out-of-state wineries from doing business directly with Michiganians, wholesalers and the LCC want to bar direct shipments entirely - even from Michigan wineries.
Yes, that's right. It's necessary to harm state vineyards to protect wholesalers.
Of course, advocates for regulation have to dress up their agenda a bit. In this case, it's the scare tactic: Direct shipment of wine makes it all too easy for teens to order and guzzle at will.
To be clear, there is the potential of abuse in any situation. For example, everyone knows the stories of teens convincing an elder to enter a store and buy beer or booze. Does that mean the state should shut down retail liquor sales?
As for the dangers of online purchases, here's what a Federal Trade Commission study found a few years back from states that had open shipping:
"In general, these state officials report that they have experienced few, if any, problems with interstate direct shipment of wine to minors. Most of them do not believe that interstate direct shipment of wine to minors is currently a serious problem, although several of them believe that it is possible for minors to buy wine online. None of them report more than isolated instances of minors buying or even attempting to buy wine online."
The state's alcohol wholesalers have a vested interest in the state's regulations. The Liquor Control Commission has a vested interest - jobs, salaries, budgets - in the state's regulations.
But lawmakers are charged with the public interest, not vested interests. (Mid-Michigan Reps. Joan Bauer, Rick Jones and Mark Meadows voted "yes." Rep. Barb Byrum's office declined to report her vote and Rep. Paul Opsommer was unavailable.)
The expectation is the bill will be altered in the Senate. Such changes must include fair and direct access for consumers - or the final votes must be for no bill at all.