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Prohibition and Repeal: A short History of the Wine Industry’s Regulation in the United States
Journal of Wine Economics

"The United States wine industry has experienced tremendous growth in the past twenty-five years. The number of wineries in the United States has grown to almost 5000, located in all fifty states, and creating over a million full time jobs. Alcohol distribution laws that hinge on the Supreme Court’s reconciliation of the Twenty-first Amendment and the Commerce Clause have significantly hindered the industry’s ability to expand. Current interpretations of the 21st Amendment give states unprecedented freedom to regulate interstate commerce in alcoholic beverages. The resulting regulatory diversity presents problems both domestically and internationally."

Calling all wineries, distributors and wine retailers
Washington Wine Report

"As part of a subsequent post about Initiatives 1100 and 1105 following the current series, I will be giving the perspective of people at all three of the distribution tiers: wineries, distributors, and retailers. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts, please contact me at wawinereport@gmail.com. This will involve responding by phone or email to a specific set of questions. The responses may be anonymous or attributed, whichever you prefer.

Separately, I plan on collating and listing the names of wineries that have taken positions for or against these initiatives and listing this information on the blog for reference. If you are interested in having your winery's name listed, please contact me at the email address above and state your position on each of these initiatives (no additional explanation needed)."

Yes on I-1100, no on I-1105
The Herald

"We recommend a yes vote on Initiative 1100, which would close all state liquor stores, including those run under contract, and require the state to sell its huge liquor distribution center in Seattle. It also would clear away many archaic rules that were established after the repeal of Prohibition, rules that haven’t made sense for years. Among other things, they ban direct sales from manufacturers to retailers, the extension of credit for liquor sales to retailers, and discounts on bulk purchases.

We encourage a no vote on Initiative 1105, which also would get the state out of the liquor business, but hold onto unnecessary requirements that favor distributors and keep prices artificially high. Retailers would have to buy liquor through a middleman."

Liquor privatization draws distributor ire
The Herald

"The battle over Washington state’s two liquor privatization ballot measures has drawn millions of dollars from out of state, mostly from beer wholesalers opposed to efforts to shake up the current alcohol distribution system."

Get state out of liquor sales: Yes on I-1100, no on I-1105
The News Tribune

"Of the two liquor initiatives on November’s ballot, only one ends all state intervention in the liquor market plus has the added advantage of heading off an unholy fight over new liquor taxes.

Initiative 1100 is that measure. Voters who want to get the state out of the business of booze should approve it while voting no on its competing measure, Initiative 1105."