Washington Wineries Oppose Ballot Measure
Washington Wineries Oppose Ballot Measure
Jul 20, 2010 6
Wash. -- An initiative on Washington state’s general election ballot this November could potentially undo years of legislative progress made by the state’s wine industry -- all in the name of liberalizing distribution rules. Spearheaded by Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco Wholesale Corp., initiative 1100 seeks the full privatization of the Washington state liquor distribution system. Costco previously challenged Washington’s retail monopoly in 2005 in an effort to win the right to buy wine from producers rather than via a distributor.The new initiative, if passed, would not only end the state’s monopoly on alcohol sales but also refinements to the three-tier system and tied-house rules that the Washington Wine Institute has secured during the past five years that have protected the state’s wine industry.Wash. -- An initiative on Washington state’s general election ballot this November could potentially undo years of legislative progress made by the state’s wine industry -- all in the name of liberalizing distribution rules.
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