California craft liquor delivery is about to go away thanks to big money lobbying
- Californians have been able to receive craft liquor deliveries for six years, but this may end unless lawmakers act by the end of the month.
- Opposition from the wine industry, Teamsters union, and corporate alcohol distributors has blocked legislation to make the 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 contributions to California politicians over the years.
- The fight highlights how wealthy interests can influence policy decisions in Sacramento.
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 craft distillers, who have spent a fraction as much on state politics, say all that spending from the opposition, particularly from corporate liquor distributors, appears to have paid off. The fight is about more than whether Californians can have a bottle of whiskey or gin delivered; it illustrates how decisions are made in Sacramento, where wealthy and powerful interests can shape or kill policy in secret negotiations with lawmakers.
加州手工酒类配送即将结束，因大额游说影响
加州居民已享受手工鸡尾酒配送六年，但现在如果立法者不在本月底之前采取行动，这种配送服务可能会结束。由于加州葡萄酒行业、团队工会卡车司机和大型酒类批发商的反对，这种可能性不大。
这些有影响力且资金雄厚的团体在今年私下游说立法机构，阻止了一项将疫情期间允许手工酿酒师直接向顾客配送烈酒的规则永久化的立法。最新的临时延长将于12月31日到期。
手工酿酒师在州政治上的支出仅为反对派的一小部分，他们表示，反对派，特别是大型酒类分销商的支出似乎已见成效。这场斗争不仅关乎加州居民是否能够收到威士忌或杜松子酒的配送；它还突显了在萨克拉门托，富有和强大的利益如何通过与立法者的秘密谈判来影响或扼杀政策。