|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Paul Costa |
|
Costa introduces bill to allow direct wine shipments to Pa. consumers
HARRISBURG, Jan. 28 -- State Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny, has reintroduced legislation that would provide for the direct shipment of wine through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, or LCB.
This legislation (H.B. 2165) would allow both in-state and out-of-state wineries to ship their products directly to consumers as long as the wineries obtain a limited winery license and direct shipper license from the LCB.
Costa, the House Liquor Control subcommittee chairman on licensing, said he introduced the bill for two reasons: First, to help in-state wineries expand their profits and second, expediting wine products would improve convenience for Pennsylvania citizens.
“If a consumer would like a shipment of wine from a specific Pennsylvania winery sent directly to his or her home, why should the state mandate an extra step in that process by making that buyer make a trip to the nearest state store to pick it up?” Costa said. “Furthermore, if the store doesn’t carry the particular beverage the consumer wishes to buy, it’s a no-win situation for the consumer, not to mention the winery and Pennsylvania, both of which lose out on revenue.”
Under the bill, any winery that produces a maximum of 80,000 gallons of wine annually would be allowed to directly ship through the state LCB. It would also require consumers wishing to have wine shipped directly to a residence or other location to purchase the wine at an LCB store or through the LCB’s Web site.
This legislation would counter a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that disabled all direct shipment of wine in Pennsylvania.
In an effort to hear more from the Pennsylvania wineries and consumers on the issue, Costa hopes to schedule several public hearings across the state.
###af/2008/agh
l:\print\releases\WineShipments.034