Ohio regulators: Why can’t wine writers get samples in your state?
by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On
When it comes to the three-tier system, even the First Amendment doesn’t matter
This is how screwed up the wine business, three-tier, and wine shipping is: A PR firm can’t send wine samples to wine writers in Ohio so they can write nice things about the wine so wine drinkers will buy more of it.
Is it any wonder I worry about the future of the wine business?
The samples are part of a virtual tasting set for today. But participants got an email on Monday saying two of the wines can’t be shipped to wine writers in Ohio “due to complications with shipping laws to Ohio.”
Is there any other business in the world where you can’t review a legal product because it’s forbidden to send it somewhere? “I’m sorry, Ms. Critic, but you can’t see the new Marvel Avengers movie in Ohio – there are shipping complications.”
We’ll ignore the First Amendment issue here, which the Ohio “complications” clearly step all over. “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. …” The Ohio “complications,” in prohibiting a writer from getting the wine, violate the Constitution. It’s not unlike telling the New York Times its reporter can’t cover Ohio State football because state law forbids non-Ohio reporters from writing about the team.
But, hey, this is three-tier, so who cares?
Rather, this is about the short-sightedness, stupidity, and arrogance of the wine business, as well as the legislators and regulators who are in the pockets of the wine business. Protecting three-tier – and its cash-making monopoly – is apparently more important than letting consumers buy what they want, making wine accessible, and acting like we live in the 21st century.
To say nothing of selling more wine.
I’m purposely not mentioning the wines, the PR firm, or the tasting because I don’t want to get anyone in trouble with the Ohio authorities – they can be especially vindictive.
But I’m here, and I’m happy to discuss this foolishness at length. I want to hear someone from the Ohio legislature, attorney’s general office, or liquor regulators tell me why it’s legal for a wine writer to be denied a sample in the name of three-tier.
Because they can’t.
Photo: OzTypewriter, using a Creative Commons license