Senate to Vote on Bill to Allow Direct Wine Shipments

Kevin McArdle Reporting

Today, the full State Senate is scheduled to vote on a bill to allow New Jersey-based wineries to ship directly to consumers. The sponsors of the legislation say the current prohibition hurts consumer choice and is harmful to the state's burgeoning wine industry, which could have access to new markets through the bill. If enacted, New Jersey - the sixth-largest wine producing state in the nation - would join thirty-five other states that currently have direct-shipping laws on the books.

State Senate President Steve Sweeney is one of the measure's sponsors. He says, "What our bill allows is for people to go on the Internet and purchase wines from out of state and have them directly shipped into the state."

If 35 other states already allow this, why has it taken so long for New Jersey to lift its direct wine shipment ban? Sweeney explains, "We're the sixth largest wine producer in the country now, but we weren't even on the chart before."

"This will also give small wineries the tools to ship out their wines," says Sweeney. "Now, they can't send wine out to anywhere else in the country so, this really gives them the opportunity to grow their business, expand their business and become more profitable."

Critics claim lifting the direct wine shipment ban will give kids easy access to wine. Sweeney counters, "UPS and the other shipping companies don't leave alcohol on doorsteps without an adult signature."

New Jersey wine wholesalers fear passage of the bill could devastate their businesses. Sweeney says, "This was done in New York not too long ago and the net impact on the wholesalers business was 0.03%"

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