Archive for the ‘Stop HR 1161’ Category
When a relatively small group of businesses control an entire industry, something is broken. Yesterday the Specialty Wine Retailers Association (for whom I act as Executive Director) released a study entitled, "Toward Liquor Domination". The study details the more than $82 million alcohol wholesalers have spent on campaign contributions and federal lobbying over the past three election cycles. This amount dwarfs all of the state and federal campaign contributions and federal lobbying by wine stores, beer producers, spirit producers and…
A damned interesting event occurred recently that has nearly slipped under the radar. "Damned interesting" may seem hyperbole to most of you but to those who gravitate toward the historical, political and regulatorial (that's not really a word), this event is pretty interesting. Not long ago, the good people at the Center for Alcohol Policy (a National Beer Wholesaler of America creation) took it upon themselves to see to the re-printing and re-release of what might be the most influential…
AN OPEN LETTER TO AMERICA'S STATE ALCOHOL REGULATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS Dear Alcohol Regulators and Administrators: Once again, as you have every year since 1934, you are gathering together under the auspices of the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators for the annual conference of America's administrators and regulators of state liquor laws. This year you find yourself in Vegas. My understanding is that there are a number of accomplished poker players in your midst so this venue is appropriate. However,…
If by this point wine producers, beer producers, spirit producers and alcohol retailers haven't learned that their "wholesale partners" disrespect them and think them incapable of grasping what is at stake with the politics of wine, then they just aren't listening. Consider the following from the latest issue of Beverage Media, an alcohol beverage trade publication: "The most consistent thing about this business has been the wholesalers. The suppliers have had an enormous rate of turnover over the years and…
Today the Wall Street Journal took a strong stand against H.R. 1161, calling it a "Bad Bill" and taking notice that if passed it would "reduce choices and raise prices for consumers." What I like most about this important editorial from a newspaper that is carefully watched on Capitol Hill is the editorial board's keen awareness of the the truly anti-American nature of the bill seen in the way it would strip wine retailers of their commerce clause protections by…
