Posted on 03/08/2008 11:29:56 AM PST by SmithL
NASHVILLE - Prospects for passage of legislation allowing Tennesseans to buy wine over the Internet may have diminished because of an organized attack from a group that is apparently sponsored by wine and liquor wholesalers opposing the bill.
Using a Web site, direct mail and faxes, Tennesseans Against Teen Drinking has prompted a flood of e-mails and calls to legislators from citizens whom legislation sponsors say are being misled and misinformed.
The Web site, www.stopteendrinkingtn.org, includes statements attacking both Internet wine sales legislation and a bill allowing the sale of wine in grocery stores.
It also allows viewers to automatically e-mail legislators to protest the proposals as promoting purchase of alcohol by persons under 21 years of age. The automatic e-mail feature was dropped on Friday, after inquiries by the News Sentinel, though visitors could still sign a petition.
The Web site was established by Seigenthaler Public Relations. Philip McGowan, an account executive with the Nashville firm, said Tennesseans Against Teen Drinking is a "coalition of various types of groups and organizations."
He acknowledged that the Tennessee Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association is part of the coalition. Other members include the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, individual sheriffs and the Tennessee Malt Beverage Association.
Sen. Doug Jackson, D-Dickson, a sponsor of the Internet wine legislation, said he has formally requested an opinion from the Tennessee Ethics Commission on whether the organization is lobbying without being registered to do so.
"I don't consider it lobbying," said McGowan. "We're just raising awareness on an issue."
Bruce Androphy, executive director of the Tennessee Ethics Commission, said the organization's action "presents a novel issue" and he could not offer an opinion on whether the organization has run afoul. The commission will need more information to answer the question, he said.
Jackson and other backers of the bill said the contention that the legislation will promote underage drinking is bogus.
"I see this as pro-consumer. I believe the wholesale liquor lobby is trying to hide behind the concept of teen drinking," Jackson said in an interview. "Unfortunately, I believe the motivation is money. It's all about profits for the wholesale liquor lobby."
Under current state law, all wine and liquor must go through wholesalers to licensed retail liquor and wine stores. Tennessee citizens cannot legally receive shipments of wine from other states; only wholesalers.
There are two bills to change that. One is sponsored by Jackson and Rep. Doug Shepard, D-Dickson, and the other by Sen. Paul Stanley, R-Germantown, and Rep. Curry Todd, D-Collierville.
Jackson and Stanley both said they believe the wine and spirits wholesalers lobby had provided funding to establish Tennesseeans Against Teen Drinking and to operate the Web site.
Tom "Golden Goose" Hensley, veteran lobbyist for the wholesalers association, and Henry Hildebrand, lawyer for the association, did not return a reporter's phone calls. Jackson said he had spoken with Hensley, who indicated the association had provided funding to the new organization.
Hensley and David McMahan, lobbyist for the Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association, have worked against the Internet wine sales legislation. MaMahan said the retailers association has not provided any funding for the new group, though a press release lists the association as a member.
The Stanley-Todd bill includes a provision declaring that a person accepting delivery of a wine shipment must provide a driver's license or other photo identification. Jackson said a similar provision would be included in the bill he sponsors.
Todd said faxes and e-mails sent to his constituents by the new organization said juveniles would be allowed to purchase wine with "no ID required" if the bill passes, and "that's a bald-faced lie."
Todd said he now intends to abandon efforts to pass the Internet wine sales bill. Shepard last week delayed indefinitely a scheduled vote on his bill in a House subcommittee, though saying he may still push for a vote later despite the "disinformation" distributed by the new group.
All four sponsors said they have been bombarded with critical comments on the pending legislation from constituents who had received information from Tennesseans Against Teen Drinking. Shepard said several "preacher friends" got faxes.
All four also said that, once they had talked with complaining constituents and explained the legislation, most people dropped their complaints.
The legislation provides that out-of-state wine sellers could obtain a license to make shipments to Tennessee residents for $500, provided they agree to collect state taxes. Legislative staff estimates enactment would boost state revenue by $10 million per year.
Enactment would also allow Tennessee wineries to sell their products through the Internet or mail order to other states that allow such sales, Jackson said.
Most states have reciprocal provisions in their laws declaring residents can receive shipments from states with similar laws, but not from states that forbid such sales - as is now the case in Tennessee.
Now where am i gunna get ma ripple.
That right. When some teenager wants to get hammered on Friday night, their first impulse is to order a $50 bottle of Pinot Noir through the internet and then wait 3 days for delivery.
Tennessee also has No Smoking.
It ain’t really Dixie here anymore.
I have purchased wine over the Internet. Maybe it was just Texas, but I was required to provide ID proving I was over 21 just to sign for the package. It also cannot be left on the doorstep or with neighbors. Yet I can go in to any bar or liquor store in town and never get asked to provide an ID because the clerks and wait staff can just look at me and see I’m over 21.
Yeah, I really believe the opposition is about teen drinking.
It’s about big government control.
Surely 18 is enough!
If the state could figure out a way to guarantee they get every tax penny from the sales, internet wine sales would be legal in Tennessee.
Unfortunately, it’s about the Tennessee Wholesalers, and their control over big government.
You’re absolutely correct. Shipping wine to a residence costs a bundle, because of all the safeguards built in.
We like shipping California wines as gifts, but they’re never a surprise. The day before the delivery, UPS calls the recipients and tells them that they are delivering wine, and someone over 21 has to be there to sign for it.
“.....ship them to myself as medical supplies.”
Good idea. Thank you. ;>)
“I buy the wines myself and take them to a UPS shipper and ship them to myself as medical supplies”
Funny
It’s strange how we are able to ship wine to ourselves here in Texas, yet Tennessee can’t seem to fathom this activity. Sure doesn’t seem to be a problem here.
Hensley is one of a TN Wildlife Resources Commissioner that closed 440 acres of public land on a peninsula that borders McMahan's 100 acres off of Old Hickory Lake. Now McMahan has his own private state-managed game preserve just several feet away from his shooting house.
These two are crooked as the Cumberland River.
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