Results tagged “tomwark”

The three-tier liquor distribution system established after the repeal of Prohibition was designed after our model of checks and balances between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government. Ideally, no one branch between the maker (brewery, distiller or winery), wholesaler and retailer should wield excessive power. Here in the real world, however, money talks, or so goes the adage. That's especially true here in Illinois, where legislation regarding how alcohol gets to a consumer is dictated by the wholesalers through the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, the powerful lobby for the state's liquor distributors. The ABDI was instrumental in the drafting and passing of HB 429 and SB 123, which prohibits out-of-state retailers (think wine clubs and online retailers) from selling to customers in Illinois.

If you're a member of an out-of-state wine club or shop online from an out-of-state wine retailer, you have a few days left to place an order. So make it count.

Yesterday the Illinois House approved legislation regarding how customers will be able to buy their wine. It's a story we've been keeping tabs on here at Chicagoist for a while. Supporters of the bill champion HB 429 as a victory for Illinois consumers. They claim that the uniform 12-case limit shared by in- and out-of-state wineries, and the establishment of a permit system allowing smaller out-of-state wineries to sell their product directly to retailers,...

About six weeks back Chicagoist weighed in on the brewing David-and-Goliath battle between the state's major beer and spirits distributors and the growing Illinois wine industry regarding banning direct mail, phone, and internet sales of wine to customers. The distributors lobbied for legislation that would have made it impossible for the vineyards to directly sell their product to customers. The vineyards countered with legislation that not only would have protected their already meager abilities for direct sales, but would have offered them the opportunity to theoretically bypass the distributors altogether. Well, both sides reached a compromise Friday (for a more detailed analysis of the new legislation please read Tom Wark's "Fermentation" wine blog entry).