Moral Panic and Hysterical Alarmism of State Alcohol Regulators
They never ask: "Hey, why are all these people arranging for illegal shipments?"
MORAL PANIC:
The process of arousing social concern over an issue,[usually perpetuated by moral entrepreneurs and mass media coverage, and exacerbated by politicians and lawmakers. Moral panic can give rise to new laws aimed at controlling the community.
Yeah, that about sums it up.
When you sit back and read or listen to the alcohol regulators and wholesalers describe the desperate battle they are in against direct wine shipments, you’d think these folks are fighting a grave battle against the forces of evil dead set on ruining communities and undermining civil society.
In actuality, these desperate warriors are in a pitched battle to preserve the profits of gigantic corporations by claiming “illegal shipments” of wine to consumers will cause everlasting harm. I mean…batten up the hatches and hide the women and children folks….The Cabernet is on its way.
Consider this breathless press release from the Wine & Spirit Wholesalers Association (WSWA) concerning a report from the Texas ABC about “illegal shipments” of wine:
The data presented found a clear and grim picture of the current state of the wine shipment market in Texas. It was revealed that of over 500,000 wine shipments into the state, more than half of these shipments were not reported to the state and therefore illegal. The impact of these unreported and illegal shipments is multifaceted. First, and most alarming, is the potential impact on public safety. Unreported shipments are often not marked as containing alcohol and therefore are also not subject to age verification standards upon delivery.
In a “news article” from a Texas-based spirits marketing firm, we get this ALARMING news that apes the WSWA’s worries:
“Meanwhile, Chelsea Crucitti from the Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America highlighted the broader implications, noting the risks to public health, state revenue, and local economies posed by the unchecked expansion of DTC alcohol shipments.”
In a presentation by Thomas Graham, executive director of the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission at last year’s annual conference of the National Conference of State liquor administrators, we got this frightening list of things that “illegal shipments” of Pinot Noir to Texans could result in:
“Adulterated” or “Substandard” alcohol!
“Alcohol in the hands of minors”
“Counterfeit products!”
Why, gosh darn it, it’s a freaking emergency, it is!!
I’m trying to imagine exactly what kind of emergency Texas is experiencing with these “illegal shipments” of Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot, oh my! And while I’m imagining that, I’m wondering why in all this panicky rhetoric about “adulterated” products, children getting their hands on Chablis, and substandard Syrah, the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission and the Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America never ask this seemingly important question:
Why are Texans ordering more than 500,000 shipments of wine from out-of-state? What the heck is wrong with that state’s distribution system that requires Texas to order millions of bottles of wine from out-of-state sources rather than buying those wines right there off of Texas retailers’ shelves?