Michigan’s Wine Shipping Regulations Still Partial to Wholesalers
We wouldn’t want all the poor wholesalers to lose their jobs now would we? With the invention of the internet which connects customer to retailer without the middle man, wholesalers are now clamoring for their jobs. Shouldn’t they adapt? When robots and machines became the norm for the Auto industry, people needed to adapt and possibly learn a new skill fixing the machines. Sorry, that’s progress. Now with direct shipments available bypassing the middlemen, Wine Wholesale companies have been clamoring for their stake in the wine business pie, coming up with ridiculous accusations that minors can now buy alcohol with ease, hoping direct shipping legislation would get thrown out to ensure a continued monopoly. The bill which passed with a vote of 84-22 on August 31, asserts that Wholesalers have to be the middle men between wineries, and retailers and hotels, but not direct to consumers. For this type of monopoly to continue, someone must have friends in high places. Oh wait, they do!
wholesalers gave more than $475,000 in campaign contributions to lawmakers and political-action committees in 2003-2004.
I’m sure Tom over at Fermentations will have some choice words over this, if he hasn’t already.
Read [Decanter]
