Interstate wine shipments legal in Florida?

In the MONEY section of the St. Petersburg Times this morning, reporter Joni James provides an excellent summary ("Wine lovers rue bottleneck") of the controversy over Florida's restrictions on receiving wine shipments from out of state.

If you've wondered what the fuss is all about, read this article.

From a Florida wine producer's point of view, one might want the prohibitions to remain because it doesn't apply to in-state wine makers. They can ship wine freely knowing that consumers who want out of state wines can buy them only through retailers or from in-state producers. This would clearly bias a buyer's selection to only in-state shippers ... and this is why a Tampa Federal Court, basing its decision on a ruling by the U. S. Supreme Court, recently decided that the Florida law is unconstitutional.

Although you might think that would settle the issue, it hasn't. Reporter James explains it very well so I won't try to do it again here.

My personal view aligns with Governor Bush and Senator Paula Dockery who sponsored legislation last session that would remove Florida's restrictions and allow the state's wine-loving consumers to purchase wine from any legitimate shipper in the country. This country's economic structure is based on the concept of free trade and unfettered competition and Florida's retrictions are clearly antithetical to this foundation of American commerce.

Unfortunately, the Bill didn't pass (I don't know why) so Florida's law remains inconsistent with the federal court rulings. Expect another Bill, therefore, to be introduced this coming legislative session to square the matter away.

Since the retailers are the ones who will lose their monopoly, and thus some degree of business from those who will chose to buy their wines from other sources, the retailers and distributors are vehemently opposing such legislation. It's a self-serving stance, obviously, that does not serve the pocket book of the wine consumer.