Jim welcome to macro-economics. One thing I should add is the its well
known that many of the largest wholesalers especially those in many states
had their origins after repeal or World War II and were initially used to
launder ill gotten booty.. Despite repeated investigations by ambitious DA's
and Pulitzer hunting scribes, the are now "clean' and geared to the bottom
line. There is still a large amount of caution for people dealing with
them. The lingering thought of violence makes some legislators,& liquor
board members leery of opposing these companies.
I asked one old timer who dealt a lot in Grey market Bordeaux(don't ask
again) if he was really mobbed up. He winked at me and said "I like my
customers to think that ... helps collecting on invoices"
In Italy I did meet a guy who after we chatted were in the bootlegging biz
and no some cousins family who were in the same situation. His sons ran the
company and he shook his head while we talked sales saying "its not like the
old days when you used some rough tactics to keep a liquor brand in your
house...(pointing to his sons who were at VinItaly with their accountants)
they are fagotty straight guys who wouldn't screw anyone even IRS"
"Jim Lovejoy" > wrote in message
...
> "Joe \"Beppe\"Rosenberg" > wrote in
> :
>
> > I should have added except for California,Oregon, Washington State,
> > New York and Virginal where wineries have the funds to match the
> > wholesaler's donation, delegate by delegate. Almost as important is
> > that in these 5 States citizens in number can make themselves
> > available to lobby & testify. Besides the $, numbers of voters
> > motivate our representatives.
>
> You were looking at the broad picture, while I was looking only at the
> immediate results.
>
> I believe that right now, the ruling effects only the specific case, which
> invalidates Washington State law. You're right, any other case that is
> brought up will end up with the same ruling, and how the individual states
> react to the ruling will depend on the relative strength of wholesalers
vs.
> wineries, vs retailers vs consumers.
>
>
> >>"Jim Lovejoy" >
> > wrote in message ...
> >> "Joe \"Beppe\"Rosenberg" > wrote in
> >> :
> >>
> >> > The decision will be made by the wholesalers.
> >>
> >> The wineries in Washington State have a lot of clout too.
> >>
> >> A couple hundred wineries want to be able to ship directly to
> >> retailers, and consumers.
> >>
> >> > If they have the money
> >> > and/or clout they will vote with their donation dollars to keep the
> >> > status quo.
> >>
> >> The status quo is dead.
> >>
> >> Either the wholesalers will lose or the in-state wineries.
> >>
> >> > If they step aside and let consumers push for direct
> >> > shipping, the system will change BUT watch out for how the new regs
> >> > are written. A winery can do direct shipment to MD but the
> >> > paperwork is a great disincentive, especially if we talking about
> >> > orders for a case or less. Here in MD its the retail stores with
> >> > great inventories of older wine and in state wineries who want to
> >> > sell out of state. MD stored juice can only be shipped to a State
> >> > with direct shipping. > wrote in message
> >> > ...
> >> >> http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine..._costco23.html
> >> >>
> >> >> Friday, December 23, 2005
> >> >>
> >> >> Judge's decision will trigger wine-distribution changes
> >> >>
> >> >> It seems a cut-and-dried decision: Either the Legislature can
> >> >> allow both in-state and out-of-state beer and wine producers to
> >> >> ship directly to Washington retailers, or forbid any suppliers
> >> >> from doing so.
> >> >>
> >> >> That was the choice presented by U.S. District Judge Marsha
> >> >> Pechman's ruling on Wednesday.
> >> >>
> >> >> http://seattlepi.com/business/253042_costco22.html
> >> >> Costco wins rulings over state's beer, wine laws
> >> >> Thursday, December 22, 2005.
> >> >>
> >> >> Distribution setup violates Sherman Act, judge says.
> >> >>
> >> >> The way beer and wine is sold in Washington is going to change -
> >> >> though it isn't known how just yet - after a federal judge said in
> >> >> two separate rulings Wednesday that Washington's system for
> >> >> distribution...
> >> >>
> >> >> http://seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_costco_wine.html
> >> >> Judge: State discriminates against out-of-state wineries and
> >> >> breweries
> >> >>
> >> >> Wednesday, December 21, 2005 ·
> >> >> SEATTLE (AP)- A federal judge has concluded that the state may not
> >> >> allow in-state wineries and breweries to sell alcohol directly to
> >> >> retailers unless it extends the privilege to out-of-state
> >> >> producers.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >
> >
>