The Baltimore Sun reports on a member of the Maryland senate who will not allow a vote in her committee on a bill that would end the ban against direct shipment of wine. Again we get the tired old “minors will get alcohol by ordering online” argument. Never mind that the facts don’t support this position.
In the U.S., there is only one (maybe two) documented incidents of minors trying to order alcohol online–and it was as a part of a “sting” organized by the wholesalers (who want to protect their economic fiefdom). Apparently no one recalls the basic facts:
- Ordering wine (or other alcohol) online is not easy. Retailers want to ship to a business address so there is certain to be someone 21 or over to sign for the package during the day. Residences are often empty during the day, so retailers do not want to ship to them.
- Ordering wine online is expensive. The shipping costs add plenty of dollars to the cost of the wine. Minors, for the most part, don’t want to spend the extra money nor are they likely to have it. Minors want a cheap buzz.
- Minors already have plenty of access to alcohol: getting older friends, siblings, or others to buy it for them. Minors also want instant gratification. I doubt many would be willing to wait for delivery, especially when responsible sellers will delay shipment if the weather is unfavorable in terms of temperatures during the shipment.
I have often said it is easier to buy a gun online than it is to buy wine online. If you think I’m kidding, check out this gun dealer’s how-to information. It’s not as easy as ordering from Amazon.com, but it’s definitely not impossible.
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Are you sure this senator isn’t just holding out for loads and loads of earmarks
Is her name “Shelby”?
Wrong state, but similar political BS. Whether we pass a law or policy should be based on its merits, not based on the power of the lobby behind it. Think back to the days after 9/11. If I was flying, I couldn’t take nail clippers on a plane. But I could take a cigarette lighter. Why? Because the tobacco lobby was stronger than the nail clipper lobby.
It’s a bit off topic, but people may want to check out Fix Congress First for ideas on how to restore our American democracy.
I hate to see this kind of news. As someone who lives in a state that recently had their own direct shipping setback (Texas), I really get fired up about these kinds of stories. I’m all about ending the tyranny of these anti-consumer laws.
I hear you, Ben. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, this is an issue near and dear to my heart. But, unfortunately, it’s hard to have an honest debate about issues. As Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, we’re all entitled to our opinions, but we’re not entitled to our own facts. Too many people believe they are entitled to their own facts as well.