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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBill to allow wine shipments to homes clears committee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia consumers could have wine shipped to them directly from wineries under a bill approved by a key House committee this morning.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Garden City), is the first of several bills aimed at making it easier for consumers to buy wine, beer or liquor to move in the 2007 legislative session. A similar proposal, along with legislation letting voters decide on the Sunday sale of alcoholic beverages at stores, are stalled in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee.
Stephens’ bill, which won unanimous approval this morning from the House Regulated Industries Committee, would let consumers have up to 20 cases of wine a year shipped to them directly from farm wineries. To be eligible to buy the wine over the phone or Internet, consumers would have to appear at the winery to show identification proving they are at least 21 years old. Then they would be able to buy wine over the phone or Internet in the future from that winery.
When the wine is delivered in Georgia, an adult would have to sign for it, according to the legislation.
The liquor industry has traditionally opposed opening up sales laws, but Fred Kitchens, executive director of the Wine & Spirits Wholesales of Georgia, worked with Stephens on his measure. “Everyone is in agreement on this. There is no opposition,” Stephens said.
Committee Chairman Roger Williams (R-Dalton), praised the measure.
“This is something that has been asked for for a long time,” he said. “I think what we’ve got here is a bill Georgia needs. I think it’s a good marketing tool for a product we’ve got.”
Georgia has almost two-dozen small wineries, and their owners back the change, saying it would boost their business to be able to ship their products directly to consumers. It would also allow Georgians to place phone or e-mail orders with out-of-state wineries in places like California’s Napa Valley.
Williams has also filed a bill allowing voters to decide if they want stores to be able to sell beer, wine and alcohol on Sundays. The House has been waiting to see if the Senate moved on similar legislation.
However, Senate Regulated Industries Chairman David Shafer (R-Duluth), has been reluctant to even hold hearings on the issues.
Any alcohol bills that pass the General Assembly will also face a tough time winning the signature of Gov. Sonny Perdue. Perdue is a Christian conservative who doesn’t drink and he has vetoed wine bills in the past. He usually declines to express an opinion on pending legislation, but he has already come out against the Sunday sales bill.
Permalink | Comments (28) | Categories: Liquor Laws
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By Beretverde
February 20, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this
Wow… welcome to the 1970s Georgia!
By Atlanta Louie
February 20, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this
Keeping my fingers crossed!!! Save me some trips to Napa.
By Jeremy
February 20, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
When will the people of Georgia Grow up and see that “Father Sonny” is telling them what to do, instead of leading GA into the future. Plenty of other major world cities do NOT have such restrictive laws and they do just fine. I already have parents…I do not need an additional parential unit. Thanks, but no thanks!
By CJ2
February 20, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
This law will definitely be an improvement, but you can definitely see the liquor wholesalers mafia-like fingers in this. It does go far enough for consumer; it still protecting mafia-like liquor wholesalers. It sounds to me that consumer have to visit the wineries first, sign up and then they are eligible under state law to receive out of state shipments.
Also, by wine “farm” are they simply referring to wineries or can Georgian’s only purchase from “small” wineries (or whatever is meant by “farm”)
By me
February 20, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
Sonny wants to run for Congress or Senate when his term is over. He is getting too much presure from businesses that want these laws changed. He will sign any & all changes for the sale of all beer, wine, and spirts.
By Bo
February 20, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
This has been a long time coming (I think we became a wine-Nazi state in 1994?) The 3 tier distributorship system is flawed. I researched this when shipping became illegal—the Representatives (loose term) on the committee that passed the bill ALL received substantial monies from wholesalers. Regardless, I buy small allotments from a vineyard in CA but I have to ship it to family members in less-restrictive states. We will NEVER see the wine I buy on the shelves (or in restaurants) but it’s sure fun to collect/drink! I hope to be able to join wine clubs, etc. again soon! Cheers to all….
By CR
February 20, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
What’s the point? The wineries are not interested in managing Georgia’s quirks like having to check ID’s in person and maintaining those records. Plus, what if I want to order wine from a wholesaler, retailer or from a winery I have not visited? Maybe for someone maintaining dual residency in California this would be ok, but it doesn’t help most of us. It’s amazing to me that even Republicans are over-regulating this issue so much.
By Todd
February 20, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
Welcome to the nanny state where we tell you what to think, drink and how to live your life. Im sick of all the “Conservatives” telling me what and when I should put into my body.
As long as im not hurting anyone I should be allowed to consume whatever I wish.
There are two types of freedom. Freedom to and freedom from.
By Flibberdigibbit
February 20, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
Puhleeze, let’s send Guvnuh Clampitt to Washington, where he can continue providing fine, meaningful, and timely representation in the legacy of Zell Miller.
By robn77
February 20, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
CR…
The wineries already manage Georgia’s and other states quirks. There have been several wine clubs that still shipped to Georgia with the ID requirement but recent changes in their licenses or laws made them stop.
I will be glad that these shipments will be able to resume!
By Bill
February 20, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this
Keep on electing old white male Republicans to office in this State and this is the kind of backwards a* stuff we will keep talking about. Everyone who voted for anyone with a “R” behind their name deserves everything that comes to them.
By Jeff
February 20, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this
People it works like this: the wineries (suppliers) ship their products to a distributor here in GA. From there it is sold to a retailer (Publix, Kroger, Pkg Store etc. this bill is allowing people to buy wine straight from the supplier. It works great for those “hard to get wines or restaurant only wines” but in the end it will cost about the same due to shipping charges. As far as the Governor is concerned… This is NOT a Bible Thumping state. Half the people living here are transients. Sonny would be a moron if he were to pass up on the extra revenues received from sunday sales.
By David
February 20, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this
Sonny doesn’t care about the Sunday sales revenue, he only cares about satisfying Sadie Fields and her Christian Alliance numbnut followers.
By Patriot
February 20, 2007 4:25 PM | Link to this
Welcome to the land of the free.
By Jennifer
February 20, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this
Since when is Georgia not a Bible-thumping state?
By Dano
February 20, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
Just wondering am I allowed to have oral sex with my wife yet?
By Sandi
February 20, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this
Whew! I am leaving Las Vegas for Atlanta, but I had no idea the state is so restrictive. Heck, I don’t drink much, but I am certainly used to buying what I want when I want. Then again I can wait to get away from the drunken morons that drive these streets 24/7.
By CB
February 21, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this
Gov. Purdue is so far off base, I don’t know where to begin. To prohibit the people of the State of Georgia from voting on Sunday sales is the very pinnacle of arrogance. Frankly, such a controlling, dictatorial approach is not what conservatism is about. As a true conservative, I am very disappointed in the man.
By CW
February 21, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
“I think what we’ve got here is a bill Georgia needs. I think it’s a good marketing tool for a product we’ve got.” Yee haw, can I ‘git’ fries with that bill ?
We do ‘we got here’ ? I have already had Fedex ask to see ID for wine delivered to me. I assume this has no effect on wine retailers in other states sending wine to my doorstep, ie they still can’t do it ? There are plenty of trader Joe’s wines we don’t get because of the white boy money pact twixt legislators and distributors. I am glad I have friends in legitimate states I can send wine to.
By Gary
February 21, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this
So let me get this straight. If I want to buy a California wine that is a specialty wine that no one in this state carries, I can order it over the internet, but I have to travel to California first to show my ID? Please…does anyone in the legislature have a brain they are actually using?
By MikeG
February 21, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Here’s a brainstorm… the state government can assign officials to ratify age requirement, for a small fee. This eliminates on-site travel, and build another state revenue source.. win/win!
By B Hahn
February 21, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
I am a life long resident of Georgia with the opportunity to travel most of this country. We have some of the most opressive alcohol consumption laws in the country. This new law requiring the initial visit to the winery is stupid. There are plenty of other ways to verify an individual is over 21. This law will only help the privaledged few who travel to California on a regular basis. The Wholesale cartel has won again. P.S. You can be a christian and consume alcohol. The New Testament even states that elders of the church should not OVERLY indulge in wine. Let’s grow up and take responsibility for ourselves and quit letting Big Daddy control our every action.
By Peter W.
February 21, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
Not to worry. It will be like most of the other states where wineries and online resellers don’t actually verify age in person. As a matter of fact many CA wineries WILL ship to GA if you have placed a single one time order at the winery. After that you can “renew” by phone or even internet. Also, there are a couple of very good online wine retailers that currently ship to GA. Good wine can be purchased at a savings even after the shipping cost. Wine and beer should be sold on Sunday…after church, of course :)
By Michelle
February 21, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
Georgia wants to move into the future and be a “best place to live”, yet we are burdened by a “bible-belt” mentality that continues to hold us back. I won’t vote for Sonny in any election going forward.
By CW
February 21, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this
Peter W There are still some that do ship, but that is because they don’t know the law or look the other way. There are wines that I can only get from certain retailers. I ship it to friends or other methods. I think over time you’ll find less and less retailers willing to send wine to the greedy think tank that is Georgia.
By Georgia Resident that loves Wine
February 21, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
We receive wine all the time from Napa Valley wineries. It is a great pleasure to go and visit the winery— to see if you like it. Nonetheless it takes a simple phone call to the winery and it arrives. You do not have to go there first. The shipping company (ie DHL) requires an adult signature when it arrives. No biggie. I think it is quite bizarre that we can not buy wine and beer on Sunday but can go to the local bar and drink— then drive home. That is alot safer people. And to all the good Christians in Georgia— Jesus drank wine. Stop putting your nonsense values on the rest of us— a good Christian can drink a glass of wine and not go to hell. Sonny — get with the program —all those fundraising parties where people wrote big checks for your campaign had lots of wine and beer flowing. Get them a little liquored up and they all wrote you some nice checks buddy. probaly a little bigger because they were liquored up.
By Compliance Manager - Ventana Vineyards
March 1, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
Well, as soon as this law passes, please visit our website! And remember, if you do happen to visit Monterey (or any other fine wine region) you can still have wine shipped to your home in GA if you make the order on-site. We work hard to keep all our permits active, and even hold a bond in GA for the right to ship on-site purchases.
Check out our tasting notes at text to be linked. I recommend the Gold Stripe Chardonnay and the Syrah (cold climate).
Cheers!
Betsy Compliance Manager Ventana Vineyards Estate Grown and Bottled Arroyo Seco, AVA
By G Cargni
March 5, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
“Any alcohol bills that pass the General Assembly will also face a tough time winning the signature of Gov. Sonny Perdue. Perdue is a Christian conservative who doesn’t drink and he has vetoed wine bills in the past. He usually declines to express an opinion on pending legislation, but he has already come out against the Sunday sales bill”.
On the above statement I would like to comment: I find it difficult to understand (and to swallow) why an elected official would put his/her personal opinion and believes ahead of those people he/she was elected to represent.