WSWA strongly opposes the interstate direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipment of alcohol. The current three-tier system of alcohol distribution – where alcohol producers can only sell to wholesalers, retailers can only buy from wholesalers, and consumers can only buy from retailers—has created a regulatory structure that supports enforcement, accountability, and safety. Because of the three-tier system, the U.S. alcohol marketplace is the safest and most diverse in the world.
DTC shipments of alcohol cause widespread and well-known enforcement, public health, and public safety issues and leads to more bureaucracy, more enforcement actions, and more spending of taxpayer funds.
Continue reading to learn why legislators and consumers alike understand the dangers of enacting spirits DTC legislation.