There have been so many good posts written on this subject over the last week, that it may seem like overkill writing another, but I think that this is one of the most important pieces of news that has hit the wine scene since I started blogging, and I want to make sure that I do my part to pass on the news.  I would like to recommend a couple (or three) of posts on the topic that will give you a great overview of what is going on with this bill.  The first is from a man who knows this issue inside and out, Tom Wark on his Fermentation blog, the next great post on the subject is from Josh Wade on Corkd, and finally there is a great video up on the VinTuba site that explains the issue as well.

The basic issue here is that lobbyists for alcohol distribution have introduced this bill to limit the ability of consumers to have access to direct shipment of wines.  This bill will effectively end direct shipment of wine in some states, and will threaten it in others.  It will also give consumers no recourse through the courts, which is the real motivation for the bill.  Distributors around the country have had to spend a lot of money in the courts to protect their monopoly, and they want to ensure that the public is not able to challenge their anti-competitive practices in court.  This is a horrible piece of legislation for consumers, and must be stopped.

Contact your representative
and tell them to vote NO on HR5034, join the Facebook community STOPHR5034, and follow and post using the hashtag #HR5034 on Twitter. It is time for the wine community to show that we are a force to be reckoned with and will not quietly be pushed around by three tier lobbyists.