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.