In-State Shipping

[Innkeeper]

Can you believe that Texans are arguing over IN-STATE shipping! See: http://www.dallasnews.com/texas_southwest/349437_wine_26tex.ART.html . Knew that something was strange down there when we visited a Hill Country winery a few years ago when Maine was legal. They informed us that they could not ship wine out of the state, even to a reciprocal state. Now it appears that they can't even ship to their fellow Texans. Maybe this bill will pass, making that possible. Don't bet on it.

[hotwine]

It is indeed an incredible environment, IK. The wholesalers have a VERY cozy first-name relationship with many state officials (elected and otherwise), and are adept at using the media to sway public opinion and legislative agenda toward their single-minded objective: that of preserving and protecting their extremely lucrative cartel from governmental interference. And you're right: intrastate shipping is currently disallowed by Texas state law. Breaching that barrier is the first goal of those in favor of home delivery because it's such an obvious first step, and directly affects little mom & pop wineries in the Hill Country that currently can't even get the wholesalers to distribute their products. (I'm sitting here shaking my head at the absurdity....)
It will take time, but we'll get there. And we'll eventually be offering job training to wholesalers who need to find another line of work.

[This message has been edited by hotwine (edited 04-26-2001).]

[winoweenie]

Heck Hotsie, No job trainin' needed in the carpet biz so we can absorb all them unskilled fellers. WW

[Botafogo]

Seems like yet another reason to listen to W with a grain (or a pillar) of salt when he talks about "freedom" and "deregulation'....

[Thomas]

"Government Intervention" in Texas isn't prevented by alcohol wholesalers, it is welcome and paid for. But it certainly ain't the kind of intervention from which the public will benefit. ...