CASES COULD PUT MORE WINE ONLINE.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer AGUA DULCE- The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear cases on Tuesday on whether small California wineries, such as the Agua Dulce Agua Dulce is Spanish for "sweet water". It also refers to various locations: In Mexico:
``California wineries, particularly smaller family-run operations, should be able to ship their product directly to customers in all states,'' said K. Lloyd Billingsley, editorial director of the Pacific Research Institute and author of the new report ``Wine Wars: Defending E-Commerce and Direct Shipment in the National Wine Market.'' Billingsley said he rejects the argument that Internet sales and direct shipping of wine will promote underage drinking. ``Twenty-four states prohibit direct shipments of wine,'' he said. ``The trend is toward direct shipping and the high court should recognize that current reciprocity reciprocity In international trade, the granting of mutual concessions on tariffs, quotas, or other commercial restrictions. Reciprocity implies that these concessions are neither intended nor expected to be generalized to other countries with which the contracting parties arrangements could simply be extended to all states.'' The Supreme Court has taken up the issue after federal appellate courts A court having jurisdiction to review decisions of a trial-level or other lower court. An unsuccessful party in a lawsuit must file an appeal with an appellate court in order to have the decision reviewed. have rendered split decisions on it, Billingsley said. ``This is clearly an issue of protectionism protectionism Policy of protecting domestic industries against foreign competition by means of tariffs, subsidies, import quotas, or other handicaps placed on imports. , at odds with the Commerce Clause of the Constitution,'' he said. ``The high court has an historic chance to end the legacy of Prohibition and rule in favor of direct shipping. It should not be a felony, as it is in some states, to buy a bottle of premium wine and ship it to your own home.'' An overturn of the ban would assist smaller wineries, such as the Agua Dulce Vineyards. The business is currently seeking permits from the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Regional Commission to expand operations. No one from the vineyard would return telephone calls Friday. Billingsley said current law on Net sales Net Sales The amount a seller receives from the buyer after costs associated with the sale are deducted. Notes: This amount is calculated by subtracting the following items from gross sales: merchandise returned for credit, allowances for damaged or missing goods, freight of wine to certain states - such as New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and Michigan, where it's banned - is like banning customers from ordering goods by telephone. ``The Supreme Court should stop discriminatory treatment, promote free trade and competition, and bring the entire nation into line with the intent of the commerce clause and the speed of the Internet,'' he said. Susan Abram, (661) 257-5257 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Jaime Abilla prepares to unload a basket full of grapes during the San Giovese harvest at Agua Dulce Vineyards, which hopes to be able to sell wine online around the nation soon. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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