If WSWA or NBWA were really concerned about states maintaining their right to regulate alcohol as they see fit, then these associations would have been screaming bloody murder when WHOLESALERS sued states, as they have in TX, KS and IN.

However, not a peep of contempt for these lawsuits surfaced from WSWA or NBWA as they do now when the suits are brought by wineries and retailers.

One more indication that principle and states' rights are not the motivation behind HR 1161. Profit and self protection is what motivates wholesalers. They like lawsuits when they benefit them. They don't like lawsuits when they aren't benefiting from them.

What goes unmentioned by supporters of HR 1161 is that this is truly radical legislation. Supporters of HR 1161 don't mention that it would strip wine retailers of all their commerce clause protections. And for no good reason other than to protect lazy in-state retailers and the wholesalers that are incapable of serving consumers who want a greater selection of wines than wholesalers are able or willing to provide to local retailers. When consumers are banned from buying wine from out of state retailers they are left with a selection of imported wines that often represents only a tiny percentage of the imported wines that would be available to them if they could buy direct from out of state retailers.

Wholesalers are notoriously ignorant and dismissive of consumer desires and needs.

Both your comments, Harry, as well as Karin's response make crystal clear that the benefits of HR 1161 come only as a results of the protectionist legislation that the law would allow. My hope is that this clear indication of the motivations behind this law as described here will make their way to lawmakers considering HR 1161.

So what is the real reason wholesalers are so eager to see this legislation pass? If I had to venture a guess, I suspect the CARE Act is phase one of a two-part strategy by large wholesalers to further protect their monopoly and profits. If the CARE Act passes, challenges to state alcohol law will become more difficult. That’s something you indicated above. Phase two will be for the NBWA and WSWA to lobby state-level Representatives for favorable legislation, for example, as you suggested, legislation that requires direct sales to be consummated face-to-face. As an owner of a winery with no tasting room and in business only because of our direct sales, face-to-face consummation for a sale would likely be the end of us. There are many other wineries in a similar situation. Over time, state by state, lobbying efforts by the NBWA and WSWA will erode the recent progress made in providing consumers with freedom of choice.

The CARE Act seems to benefit no one but wholesalers. With all the issues our country faces, do we really want elected officials spending time on this? I certainly hope not.