The Beer and Wine Law Reformer -- Issue #5
In This Issue...
2006 Election Wrap-Up
Wine News
Beer News
Great Gift Idea
Join the Fight
Upcoming Events
Happy Holidays from Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws! In our final issue of 2006 we discuss Peter Franchot's victory in the Comptroller's race and why that's good for us; Maryland wineries' banner year in 2006; and how you can help Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws bring you fine wine in the mail in 2007.
2006 Election Wrap-Up
Franchot New MD Comptroller, Mass. Voters Reject Wine in Grocery Stores
Peter Franchot Wins Comptroller Race
Peter Franchot, endorsed by Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws, garnered over a million votes in the Comptroller’s race in November. The Comptroller oversees the enforcement of Maryland’s alcohol laws, and has great sway over alcohol-related legislation. Del. Franchot understands that the "3-tier system" of regulating alcohol is out-dated and he has expressed interest in allowing consumers to get wine shipped direct to them through the mail.
Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws looks forward to working with Del. Franchot in modernizing the state’s alcohol laws in the years to come.
Wine Sales in Grocery Stores Rejected by Mass. Voters
Fear-mongering advertising scared Massachusetts voters into rejecting a ballot initiative in November that would have allowed wine sales in grocery stores. According to Christopher Flynn, president of the Massachusetts Food Association, which represents the state's supermarket chains, the "negative scare campaign" of the liquor sellers succeeded in derailing the question. "The consumer's the loser," Flynn said, adding that his members are not giving up the fight. "This is something our consumers want. We're going to have to regroup and see where we go from here."
The Boston Globe noted that the opposition campaign raised $4.6 million from the package stores, big liquor wholesalers and beer distributors.
Wine News
MD Wine Sales Go Big in '06; New Winery Project in SoMD
Maryland Wine Sales Up 18%
The Comptroller of Maryland's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Annual Report for FY06 reports an 18.6% growth in Maryland wine sales over FY05.
"This shows the amazing strength of the Maryland wine industry and its benefits to the rural economy," said Carol Wilson, president of the Maryland Wineries Association and proprietor of Elk Run Vineyards in Mt. Airy. "We're seeing more customers at our wineries and festivals, and that is helping to drive sales in retail stores."
"Approximately 968,333 bottles were sold in FY06 at an average price of $11, totaling over $10.5 million in sales," said Kevin Atticks, executive director of the Maryland Wineries Association.
The Maryland Comptroller’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Annual Report for FY 2006 is online here.
Southern Maryland Starts Up Wine and Vineyard Project
Southern Maryland could become the East Coast Napa Valley if local leaders have their way. The Port of Leonardtown Project is a collaboration between local and state government, farmers, and businessmen seeking to create a new tourist destination and economic engine out of an old State Highway Administration maintenance facility. According to Southern Maryland Online, on that old site “will sit a park that contains a kayak launch, a picnic area, a winery, and a grape vineyard demonstration area. Officials are currently negotiating with the recently formed Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative to supply the grapes and operate the winery. The State is working to help yesterday’s tobacco farmers become tomorrow’s grape growers.”
More on the project can be found here and here.
Beer News
Associated Press Gives Much Love to New Batch of Baltimore Breweries
The Associated Press recently ran a great article on the revival of brewing in Baltimore, featuring Hugh Sisson from Clipper City Brewing Company and Bob Wilson, president of Fordham Brewing Company. The article also discusses the city’s rich brewing tradition by mentioning the old greats that used to inhabit the city – National Bohemian, American, Arrow and Gunther breweries.
The story is online here.
Great Gift Idea
Give the Gift of a Cool Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws T-Shirt This Christmas
Looking for a cool gift for friends and family? How about a t-shirt from Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws? 100% cotton and 100% great cause to support. Only $15.00 - to order, visit our website scroll down and hit the “donate” button. On our donation page, just enter the right amount for your t-shirt(s) and note what size you want.
Join the Fight
Make Some Extra Cash Helping Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws
We’re a low-budget, volunteer, grassroots kinda organization, but we understand that everyone’s gotta make a buck. Then again, why don’t we both make a little money!
Help organize a fundraiser or establish business relationships for Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws and you can take home 25% of the proceeds. The more people and donations you bring in for us, the more money you make too.
MBBWL also needs the help of good ol’ fashioned, unpaid volunteers to gear up for the 2007 legislative session. Here’s where we could use some extra hands:
Data entry: we collected contact info from hundreds of people at wine and beer festivals and we need to get them into our database before the legislature starts up.
Tabling and community outreach: Are you a people person? Do you love meeting and talking to new people and pontificating on the evils of the 3-tier system? Then you would love working at our booth at beer and wine festivals.
Phone tree organizer: Are you a phone person? An organizer? When the legislature starts up next year, we need people like you to make the phone lines light up at the legislature and set up meetings with elected officials.
Writers and researchers: We need help developing our lobbying packets and public education materials. If you like to write and do legal research, let us know.
Public speakers: We want the legislature to hear the consumer’s voice next year instead of just hearing from the alcohol industry and wealthy special interests. Let us know if you can take a few hours out of your busy day to give your elected officials a piece of your mind, either through a one-on-one meeting or by testifying at a committee meeting.
If you or your friends are college students and over 21, we’re happy to take you on as an intern. You can work out of your house, but it would help if you had a car so we can send you down to Annapolis.
If you’re interested in any of these opportunities, contact Scott Ehlers at scott_at_betterbeerandwinelaws.org. Please put “volunteer” in the subject line.
Upcoming Events
Beer, Bourbon, Barbeque, and Wine....
March 24, 2007: Beer, Bourbon and Barbeque Festival, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD. Brought to you by the great folks at Moorea Marketing.
Winery Events: A full listing of winery-related events is online at the Maryland Wineries Association website.
