Scarnati Plans to Re-Introduce Direct Wine Shipping Bill

This is a memo Senator Joe Scarnati sent to all members of the Senate:

In the near future I plan on re-introducing legislation which would allow Pennsylvania wine consumers the convenience of making purchases by internet, mail or telephone and having the product shipped directly to their homes. This legislation will be similar to Senate Bill 101 of last session.

The Liquor Code currently allows for wine to be shipped directly to consumers' homes only from Pennsylvania wineries. A consumer who orders wine from an out-of-state entity must have the product shipped to their nearest Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) store for pickup.

In the 2005 “Granholm” Case the United State Supreme Court ruled that allowing only in-state wineries to ship directly to consumers was a violation of the Federal Commerce Clause. This legislation will bring Pennsylvania law into compliance with this ruling and provide added convenience and selection for consumers.

My legislation would limit shipments to no more than eighteen liters per month in orders from an individual in the Commonwealth. The legislation will also require proof of age of the recipient and ensure that all direct wine shipment packaging be labeled with the message “CONTAINS ALCOHOL: SIGNATURE OF PERSON 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY”.

Any entity seeking to ship wine directly to consumers within the Commonwealth will be required to purchase an annual direct wine shipper license from the PLCB and submit all applicable taxes from purchases by Pennsylvania residents to the Department of Revenue.

Co-sponsors of SB 101 last session include: PILEGGI, BROWNE, MENSCH, VULAKOVICH, YAW, WHITE, VANCE, WARD, ALLOWAY, FOLMER,BAKER, SCHWANK, YUDICHAK, AND COSTA.

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