Online Wine Good for Consumers
By George Anderson
Making interstate shipping of wines legal would give Virginians more product
choices and perhaps even lower prices according to a study recently completed
by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
According to The Washington Post, “The study looked at 83 of the most
popular wines and found that about 15 percent of them were available online
but not in retail stores. It also found that the more expensive wines generally
cost less online, even after shipping charges. On the other hand, shipping made
most wines under $20 a bottle cost more.”
Moderator’s Comment: Should consumer direct sales of
wine and other alcoholic beverages be legal?
The arguments against online wine sales and interstate
shipping usually come down to governmental issues about regulation/control of
alcohol distribution and the concerns responsible drinking advocates have about
underage drinkers.
The only questions that adult wine drinkers who want to
make a purchase online have are:
- How much?
- How good?
- Visa, Mastercard or Amex?
- How long before I receive the wine?
[George
Anderson – Moderator]