Maryland Direct Shipping Bill (Part 1)

[Note: this is the first in a series of rants against the Maryland wine retailers, wholesalers and others who oppose this bill]

My first rant is against Chuck Ferrar, owner of Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits, who testified against the bill at the Senate committee hearing yesterday in Annapolis. Is it any coincidence that Chuck's application to expand his store was approved in May by the City of Annapolis Beverage Control Board, or that Steve Wise, the attorney who represented Chuck at the board hearing, also testified against the bill? I think not. It is clear that all of those who testified in opposition to the bill are just circling the wagons and protecting their own interests. They do not care about Maryland consumers and what we want. Their only interest is in maintaining the status quo of the antiquated, neo-prohibitionist, protectionist three-tier regulatory control system in Maryland. One of those who spoke in opposition to the bill said something very telling, to the effect that passage of this bill will be just the first step in attempts to dismantle the three-tier system. Is there any wine consumer in Maryland who thinks that the current system is a good one? When I tell fellow wine lovers from out of state or from another country about Maryland's ABC laws, their responses are always expressions of incredulity. They simply cannot believe that every county in Maryland has its own liquor control board, or that some towns, like Annapolis, also have their own liquor control board. So yes, I hope that the bill gets passed, and that this is just the first step in getting rid of the corrupt, rotten-to-the-core, three-tier system in Maryland.

I have to stop now and have a glass of wine to calm down. The next installment will be focused on the current direct shipping law and why it doesn't work. I leave you now with this thought: it's time for Maryland consumers to change our self-image. We are not merely consumers, we are citizens and VOTERS and we have the power to CHANGE the laws of this state.

For further reading, I recommend this excellent article by Philip Rucker in the Washington Post: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/18/ AR2008021802131.html