Washhington State Cracks Open Three-Tier Mandates
Yesterday, Washington State voters passed an initiative to privatize spirit sales and facilitate a more open market. It essentially breaks up the state’s mandatory “three-tier system” for alcohol distribution. My colleague Michelle Minton and I have written about it here and here. Now that the initiative has passed, the state can start issuing licenses to grocery stores and Costco to sell spirits beginning in June 2012. In ...
Tied House Rules: Mythical Excuse for Regulation?
My colleague Michelle Minton raises a provocative, yet convincing case that modern-day laws supporting three-tier mandates for alcohol regulation are based more on myth than reality. These laws mandate that all alcohol must go from wholesaler to distributor before sale to a retailer. Before Prohibition, saloons were often tied to alcohol producers either through contractual arrangements or direct ownership. Members of the Temperance movement believed that these economic arrangements contributed to ...
Washington State Initiative Could Send Tremors Across America
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy published my article on the Washington State alcohol policy initiative (#1183), which would privatize spirit sales and crack open the three-tier system in that state. With any luck, this initiative will become a model for other states looking to enhance consumer choice and private enterprise. Costco has led the charge in Washington and may take their battle elsewhere should they win next ...
News
Washhington State Cracks Open Three-Tier Mandates
Yesterday, Washington State voters passed an initiative to privatize spirit sales and facilitate a more open market. It essentially breaks up the state’s mandatory “three-tier system” for alcohol distribution. My colleague...
Tied House Rules: Mythical Excuse for Regulation?
My colleague Michelle Minton raises a provocative, yet convincing case that modern-day laws supporting three-tier mandates for alcohol regulation are based more on myth than reality. These laws mandate that all alcohol must...
Washington State Initiative Could Send Tremors Across America
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy published my article on the Washington State alcohol policy initiative (#1183), which would privatize spirit sales and crack open the three-tier system in that state. With any luck, this...
Wacky Wine Regulation Quiz
My colleague Michelle Minton and I presented on alcohol regulation at the Society of Wine Educators Conference in Providence Rhode Island is past summer. We managed to keep participants awake with a lively presentation that...
Constitution Never Meant to Serve Beer
Last week, the National Beer Wholesalers Association President Craig Purser, who happens to be a former colleague of mine, had an article in The Washington Times, suggesting that the alcohol bill on Capitol Hill (H.R. 1161) serves...
Alcohol Wholesalers’ Attack on American Jurisprudence
Beer wholesalers say they are supporting federal alcohol legislation related to shipping of alcohol interstate–the so-called CARE Act–because they are concerned about the uncertainty and bureaucracy associated with...
CEI Releases Paper on CARE Act
Today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute released my white paper on the CARE Act. Press release and link follow below. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lee Doren, 202-331-2259 Nicole Ciandella, 202-331-2773 CARE Act Undermines...
Wholesale Abuse and Costco’s New Initiative
Practical Winery and Vineyard Journal has published my latest perspective on wholesaler attempts to pass anti-competitive federal legislation. A copy of that is available here. Also, a news item worth checking out is Costco’s...
Wholesaler Spending Buys Protection
Terroirist blogger David White has posted a good commentary on the Specialty Wine Retailers Association report on alcohol wholesaler spending: “Toward Liquor Domination.” He highlights some report findings such as: Over the...
Liquor Wholesalers Enlist Mormon Legislator to Lead Quest
Alcohol wholesalers have enlisted Mormon Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) to lead their quest for passage of anti-competitive liquor legislation during the 112th Congress [see a copy of the bill here]. Chaffetz is most likely a...
