Fact Checking: A Review of the Lies and Distortions of the Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America

The most recent assertions by the most powerful alcohol trade association in America reveals a plethora of problems

Some folks will argue it is pedantic to go into Fact Checking Mode. And I know that “fact checkers” don’t have the best reputation since “facts” seem to have taken on a weird and opaque life of their own. However, when the most powerful alcohol trade association makes assertions that are wholly untrue and completely unsupported, there is a certain danger in allowing these assertions to stand without answer. This explains the following fact-checking of the assertions made by the Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America.:

“The U.S. marketplace is the safest, most diverse and transparent beverage alcohol supply chain in the world — and a victim of its own success.”
Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America

Consumers never hear why certain wines available in other states are not available in their own state. But the answer is that wholesalers in those states refuse to represent the brand and the brand has no other options for appearing on the shelves of that state’s retail outlets and restaurant wine lists since the law prohibits them from selling directly to retailers. There is nothing transparent about this process.

“A push for deregulation and a direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping marketplace in recent recent years has led to fractures in public health and safety, limited supply chain transparency, barriers to competition, and market entry, and obstacles to effective enforcement and efficient tax collection.”
Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America

There is nothing about this claim that is true. Literally nothing. Its string of lies explains why WSWA does not support anything they say with facts or examples. Direct to Consumer sales is not “deregulation”. It is reform that is intensely regulated. The increased DtC privilege that wineries have gained over the past 30 years has led to not a single “fracture” or threat or problem concerning public health and safety and no health, regulatory or law enforcement agency has ever even suggested this, let alone demonstrated it. Allowing consumers to buy direct from producers and receive their goods via shipment actually increases competition in the marketplace, opens up entries to the market, and increases tax revenue for states. This is all documented in reports issued by states and by the federal government.