Let Consumers Pick Their Own Wine

Let Consumers Pick Their Own Wine

By SENATOR PAULA DOCKERY

Apr 11, 2006

Florida consumers who want to purchase wines directly from wineries are being pitted against wholesalers, who want all such purchases to flow through them.

The state announced earlier this year that it will permit out-of-state wineries to ship their products to adult consumers, in accordance with federal court rulings that struck down state laws such as Florida's that ban direct shipments.

The Legislature is working now on implementing legislation to determine how direct shipment should be regulated.

One form of the legislation proposes a cap that would ban wineries that produce 250,000 gallons or more, as well as smaller wineries that they own or distribute for, from shipping to Florida. Such a cap would deny consumers the very access the courts upheld.

Some proponents will lead you to believe that this cap helps smaller wineries. But the only way that most small wineries can survive is to diversify the way in which they sell their wine. Direct shipment enables them to expand to new markets.

And the Federal Trade Commission has concluded that direct shipment gives consumers the freedom to buy wines at significantly lower prices, saving as much as 21 percent.
Lower prices, more choices - sounds good, right?

My bill, SB 282, is pro-consumer in that it gives Floridians increased choice in buying directly from any winery. Floridians just want to be able to buy wines from any of the 3,500 U.S. wineries they choose - it's truly as simple as that.

A cap in any form is discriminatory and works against consumer choice, fair trade and the spirit and intent behind the court rulings.