Comments on: Newspaper sets up sting in Minnesota http://shipcompliantblog.com/blog/2006/06/07/newspaper-sets-up-sting-in-minnesota/ Untangling the complex world of wine direct shipping and compliance Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:48:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Lee McGrath http://shipcompliantblog.com/blog/2006/06/07/newspaper-sets-up-sting-in-minnesota/#comment-119 Lee McGrath Tue, 13 Jun 2006 02:38:49 +0000 http://shipcompliantblog.com/blog/?p=101#comment-119 The Satint Paul Pionner Press published my letter to the editor in response to this article. Here it is: Monopoly objects to competition In "Wine ordered online lands in teens' hand " (June 5), Paul Kaspszak, the spokesman for liquor stores owned by municipalities, said his organization is against online sales. There are approximately 135 Minnesota cities, including 22 in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, that restrict competition from private liquor retailers. Is it any wonder such a monopoly objects to competition from the Internet and is willing to use children to protect its market share? The reality is that teenagers, not part of an entrapment or sting operation, do not have the foresight or interest in ordering expensive wines from far-away wineries. Although it isn't right, it is far easier to raid daddy's liquor cabinet or stand outside a liquor store and ask, "Hey Mister, would you do me a favor?" LEE MCGRATH Edina The writer leads the Minnesota Chapter of the Institute for Justice, the pubic interest law firm whose suit established the freedom for Minnesotans to order wine over the Internet. The Satint Paul Pionner Press published my letter to the editor in response to this article.
Here it is:

Monopoly objects to competition

In “Wine ordered online lands in teens’ hand ” (June 5), Paul Kaspszak, the spokesman for liquor stores owned by municipalities, said his organization is against online sales.

There are approximately 135 Minnesota cities, including 22 in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, that restrict competition from private liquor retailers. Is it any wonder such a monopoly objects to competition from the Internet and is willing to use children to protect its market share?

The reality is that teenagers, not part of an entrapment or sting operation, do not have the foresight or interest in ordering expensive wines from far-away wineries. Although it isn’t right, it is far easier to raid daddy’s liquor cabinet or stand outside a liquor store and ask, “Hey Mister, would you do me a favor?”

LEE MCGRATH

Edina

The writer leads the Minnesota Chapter of the Institute for Justice, the pubic interest law firm whose suit established the freedom for Minnesotans to order wine over the Internet.

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