Archive for the ‘Shipping Wine’ Category
Of late, this blog has concentrated a bit more than usual on the the politics and regulations concerning the alcohol beverage industry. The introduction of H.R. 5034 has prompted the relative increase in political posts. However, Fermentation is hardly the only blog that focuses on issues of politics, regulations, legislation and the legal aspects of the alcohol beverage industry. A number of other blogs, some quite new and promising, speak to these issues and should be considered resources for those…
The current state of H.R. 5034, a bill introduced into Congress on behalf of wholesalers that would give the middlemen the power to initiate and see passed state laws that protect their state-mandated control of the market in beer, wine and spirits, remains somewhat unaccounted for. That is to say, no hearings in the House Judiciary Committee, where the bill is parked, have been scheduled since a tentative July 14 hearing date was canceled. However, that has not stopped the…
With so much at stake for America's alcohol wholesalers and their protected monopoly status that props up unearned profits, it's no surprise they would swing for the fences with all their state-granted political power and attempt to pass H.R. 5034. This bill, currently in Congress, would give wholesaler lobbyists the means to turn back the clock on consumer access to wine, lead to the passage of laws that override federal regulations on alcohol, kill jobs and business that focus on…
At a recent meeting of the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA) a lively debate over H.R. 5034, the bill that would allow states to pass any discriminatory or protectionist laws and regulations regarding alcohol sales and distribution without concern of court challenges. At that debate, wholesaler supporters complained that opponents of the bill have done nothing to suggest changes to the bill that would make it more passable: "The people who oppose this legislation may have ideas to…
In criticizing the Obama administration General Stanley McChrystal made a fundamental mistake that is too often perpetrated in our society: He mistook himself for a politicians when he is really just an administrator. The reason this is such an important mistake is because the fundamental role of an administrator is to carry out policy. The fundamental role of a politician is to make policy on behalf of the people. The key difference here is that a politician has a constituency,…
