California craft liquor delivery is about to go away thanks to big money lobbying
- Californians have been able to receive craft liquor deliveries to their homes for six years, but this may end soon.
- Opposition from the wine industry and corporate alcohol distributors has blocked legislation to make these delivery rules permanent.
- The current temporary law allowing craft distillers to ship spirits expires on December 31.
- Lobbying efforts against the proposal have exceeded $1 million this year, with significant donations to California politicians over the years.
- The Teamsters union supports craft distillers but wants them to use established shipping companies for legal delivery.
For six years, Californians have been able to shake up a craft cocktail at home using alcohol delivered to their doorstep. Now, it’s last call for the distillery deliveries, unless lawmakers intervene by the end of this month. That’s unlikely, thanks to opposition from California’s wine industry, Teamsters union truck drivers and corporate alcohol wholesalers and distributors.
The influential, well-funded groups lobbied the Legislature behind closed doors this year to block legislation that would have made permanent pandemic-era rules that allowed craft distillers to ship spirits directly to their customers. The latest extension expires Dec. 31.
The groups blocking the proposal have spent more than $1 million lobbying the Legislature and state government this year. The craft distillers, who have spent a fraction as much on state politics, say all that spending from the opposition appears to have paid off.
加州手工酒类送货即将消失，因大资金游说
加州居民在过去六年中能够在家中使用送货上门的酒精调制手工鸡尾酒。现在，如果立法者在本月底之前不采取行动，这一送货服务将面临结束的局面。由于加州葡萄酒行业、团队工会卡车司机和企业酒类批发商及分销商的反对，这种可能性不大。
这些有影响力且资金充足的团体在今年秘密游说立法机构，阻止了一项将手工酿酒师直接向客户发货的疫情期间规则永久化的立法。最新的临时延长措施将于12月31日到期。
阻止该提案的团体今年在立法机构和州政府的游说支出超过100万美元。手工酿酒师在州政治上的支出仅为对方的一小部分，他们表示，反对派的所有支出似乎都得到了回报。