Internet wine sales closer to becoming legal

Register now, it's free!
Log In | Customer Care

Internet wine sales closer to becoming legal
State House approves bill allowing Georgians to order from farm wineries; Senate will get a shot

By JAMES SALZER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/28/08

The state House overwhelmingly approved legislation this afternoon that would let Georgians buy cases of wine over the Internet from farm wineries.

[Post comments below.]

RELATED LINKS:
• More about this year's Legislature
• More metro and state news

House members also passed legislation letting wineries in Georgia sell beer and liquor as well as wine in their tasting rooms.

The legislation to allow direct wine purchases from wineries has been held up in the past by Georgia's liquor industry, which didn't want the competition. However, liquor industry lobbyists worked with the measure's sponsor, Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), to limit the scope of the legislation.

Under Stephens' direct shipping bill, which passed 126-8, Georgians would be allowed to order up to 12 cases of wine a year from farm wineries. Stephens argues the change will help Georgia's wineries because their products are not always available in grocery and liquor stores. It will also help Georgians who want to purchase cases from heavy wine-growing areas such as California.

Georgians would have to verify they are 21 or older to order the wine. Stephens said an online age verification system will be used to make sure wineries aren't selling to minors. He said 37 other states allow such sales and officials in those states haven't had a problems with wine being shipped to minors.

Related Subjects

Expand this list

Comments

By wow power leveling

Nov 5, 2008 6:17 AM | Link to this

Yes! Your blog is great, and I know something about the night elves, they are the race I WOW power leveling when I get my first account:The reclusive WOW power leveling no ban[ were the first race to awaken in the World of Warcraft Power Leveling. These shadowy, immortal beings were the first to study magic and let it loose throughout the world nearly ten thousand years before Warcraft I. The Night Elves' reckless use of magic drew the Burning Legion into the world and led to a catastrophic war between the two titanic races. The Night Elves barely managed to banish the Legion from the world, but their wondrous homeland was shattered and drowned by the sea. I love this race and suggested everyone that start their WOW death knight power leveling 55-80 a WOW power leveling no ban or WOW wlk power leveling

By sdfwer

Aug 8, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

hi all. I just found a great site for warcraft gold and wow leveling. Are you all aware what wow power leveling is? It is where someone plays your character. You can also buy gold wow from Live4Game as well. Good luck to you all.
If you are in the mood for Final Fantasy XI gil, then please go to FFXI Gil, Buy FFXI Gil, FFXI Gil Sale, Cheapest FFXI Gil, Buy Cheap FFXI Gil, final Fantasy XI Gil, Cheap FFXI Gil.

By wow gold

May 11, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this

�9�wow gold-��, �;�wow gold��, ��wow gold��, �9��wow gold��. �9�wow gold��,6787671@WOWGOLDS.COM

By Teresa

Mar 1, 2008 7:26 AM | Link to this

Religion most definitely has something to do with support for restricting access to alcohol, but the liquor lobby in GA is the real reason we can't join a wine club here or pick up a bottle while grocery shopping if it happens to be Sunday.

We are NOT protecting our children with these laws. While I believe we should take reasonable measures to prevent kids from obtaining alcohol, my experience living in GA since 1988 tells me blue laws do little toward that end.

I know from personal experience that kids STILL get fake IDs. Stronger ID check requirements no doubt help, but when presented with a genuine-looking ID that says a young person is over 21 what is a clerk or delivery person to do? They've done their job and can't realistically deny a sale based on a hunch. At any rate, I believe a responsible parent of a kid who's obtained alcohol more than a time or two would figure out what was going on and bust the kid themselves unless they were in complete denial.

Lawmakers need to pull their heads out of the sand and stop making the rest of us pay for liquor lobby perks, favors to the religious right and irresponsible parenting.

By Tom

Feb 29, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

Is Georgia's Own Moral Compass�, Jim Beck, trying to get the bill amended so internet ordering of wine on Sunday would be blocked?

LOL!!

By cass

Feb 29, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

I'm not opposed to this bill but it seems a bit two faced to me to allow something such as this and then deny the Georgia voters the right to vote for alcohol sales on Sunday. Could it be that it benefits some of the legislators and their fat cat friends?

By robert combs

Feb 29, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

this is great!

By Atlanta FAN

Feb 29, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

It will increase wine sales to the wholesale business community. Fear is how they operate internally and externally.

By Julie McEwen

Feb 29, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

Maybe we will soon have more luck in purchasing wine gifts..

By Erin

Feb 29, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

Yippee! I can finally order some of that wonderful wine I had in Florida.

And to those worried about teens getting easier access to wine: To order a case of wine, you have to have a credit card, the money to pay for it, and someone to sign for the package when it arrives. You really think that's easier than just getting an older friend to go into the convenience store for you?

[1 2] next