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Indiana trots out the tired old ‘underage drinking’ bogeyman
Indiana legislators appear poised to approve new wine shipping legislation that would limit the state’s residents in the number of cases they could order from wineries inside and outside Indiana, and it would also limit the number of cases that Indiana wineries can ship directly to customers, according to this Indianapolis Star editorial lambasting legislators over the bill.
The newspaper notes that the legislation could devastate wineries while also restricting consumers’ freedom of choice. And in the best point in the editorial, the Star points out that:
Supporters of the legislation raise the laughable argument that it will reduce underage drinking in the state. As if college and high school students are ordering cases of wine to fuel weekend parties instead of tapping kegs of beer.
We’ve mentioned before what a ridiculous red-herring argument this is, back when it was used by those supporting Michigan wholesalers who were fighting to retain every last penny of profit they squeeze out of the three-tier, producer-to-wholesaler-to-retailer system that such direct winery-to-consumer sales circumvents.
But let’s say it again: Teenagers on the hunt for alcohol do not order wine from the internet, where they’d have to use a credit card to order some pricy cabernet sauvignon, and they would have no idea when it would be delivered, then sit back and wait weeks for it to arrive, so they can then invite all their friends over for a big ole’ wine-tasting party. Ain’t gonna happen.
Those to trot out this argument — and those politicians who embrace it — are fools. Fools.
But that’s just what I think. What do YOU think?
On to lighter topics: On Wine Sediments today, I explain how wine can not only put a smile on your face, it can KEEP it there. And I challenge you to come up with your own mock Parker rating for toothpaste. Yes, toothpaste. It’ll make sense. Honest. Just click on the Wine Sediments link underlined above.
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Comments
By wine-o
March 15, 2006 9:09 AM | Link to this
Don’t worry, IN passed the measure, now allowing both in state and out of state wineries to sell up to two cases per month per customer. In state wineries are limited to less than 118,000 total cases produced per year, but I really doubt that is going to be a problem for a few vines mixed in with amber waves of grain, or Basketball hoops. Or Pacers, whatever those are.
By cathy
March 14, 2006 3:24 PM | Link to this
Fools rush in… I guess I could fathom the possibility of some underage teens ordering a bottle of tequila or Jagermeister over the internet, but certainly not a case of wine! In fact, I’ve searched the news and cannot find any documented evidence that links underage on-line shoppers with wine sales. The ridiculous arguments, mostly made by lobbies such as “Americans for Responsible Alcohol Access” and MADD, lump together all alcohol (beer, wine, hard liquor) when reporting their flimsy statistics about underage online ordering.
By Lenn
March 14, 2006 3:19 PM | Link to this
I think you’re being kind by calling them fools. I’d call them money-hungry moronic idiots who will lie to the American public whenever they can.
By Todd
March 14, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this
with politicians, words like “truth” and “reality” are far less important than “spin” and “what can we make people believe”. the problem is not just the politicians, though, it’s also the people who are… ahem, misled enough to believe them. Because while the argument is laughable to us, there are some parents out there who are nodding and going to drum up support for it. It’s the same reason we still have our outdated wine laws.
By Paul
March 14, 2006 12:33 PM | Link to this
What can I say? Politicians have obviously figured out that the public doesn’t want the real facts (why else would we keep electing them?). So they create faux facts instead.
By mel
March 14, 2006 9:49 AM | Link to this
OF COURSE THEY ARE FOOLS!! THEY ARE POLITICIANS!! It doesn’t have to make sense it only needs to promote their warped view of reality and those who fund their campaigns. Do you think for one moment the distributers believe this?