arkitrave :: log

New York’s insane, archaic wine law has just been declared unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court. In case you didn’t know, New York has the second-largest wine industry in the country, but has maintained a law prohibiting out-of-state wineries from direct-shipping to New York residents. Because of this law, other states will not allow New York wineries to ship their wines to out-of-NY customers. Given the upsurge in wine production from competitors such as Washington, New York could really benefit from the ability to expand their market to other states, and the small wineries in the Finger Lakes region are excited about this ruling.

It was a very mixed decision, 5-4 and not at all on the typical conservative/liberal split. The losers claimed that online interstate sales would increase consumption by minors. I don’t know about you, but online wine buying just doesn’t seem to fit the usual drinking profile (or budget) of America’s youth. UPS coming to Mom’s door during the day is just not as safe or cheap as finding a friend to buy 40s at the grocery store. The majority opinion agreed, and it isn’t everyday that Breyer and Scalia are on the same side of a decision!

Free trade should be obvious at this point in our country’s development, and laws that hamper the ability of small businesses to thrive should not be on the books.

As a lover of good wine and a fan of New York’s independent wineries, I’m glad to report that what New York’s overgrown assembly was unwilling to do, the Supreme Court did for them. It’s about time.