Free the Grapes!: Wine Wholesalers Cynically Using Youths to Hold Up Wine Distribution Cartel; Wine Consumer Coalition Launches ``Point, Click, Think''.

NAPA, Calif. -- Wine wholesaler middlemen are continuing to promote tired arguments against direct-to-consumer wine shipping, all of which have been refuted by state alcohol regulators, the Federal Trade Commission, and actual experience in the states that allow interstate shipments, according to Free the Grapes!

"Despite this evidence, and the growing base of support for legal, regulated director shipping, the Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America have launched a desperate attack on America's wine lovers and 3,000 wineries," said Jeremy Benson, executive director of Free the Grapes!, a national coalition of 1,500+ wineries and 300,000 consumer members who seek to augment the existing system with legal, direct-to-consumer shipping.

"The wholesalers' cynical campaign, called point, click, drink, is intended to dupe the press and to deflect attention from the wholesalers' real intent: to strengthen their state-sanctioned monopolies in wine distribution. Enough rhetoric. We say, point, click, think," said Jeremy Benson, executive director of Free the Grapes! "Today we're launching a website that specifically, and honestly, addresses the underage access topic. We encourage all interested parties to review the facts at www.pointclickthink.com."

Free the Grapes! offers a list of evidence refuting the wholesalers' arguments at www.pointclickthink.com, including:

--No state has ever repealed pro direct shipping legislation based on underage access.

--No winery or retailer has ever been prosecuted under the wholesaler-supported 21st Amendment Enforcement Act, which allows states to prosecute out-of-state wineries in federal court for breaking their laws.

--The Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America now opposes all direct shipments, although the WSWA was an early investor in the now-bankrupt WineShopper.com, which sought to have wine delivered directly to consumers.

--WSWA does not oppose intra-state direct shipments to consumers, which are legal in 39 states. They are only opposed to interstate shipments, which are legal in 26 states, because these shipments bypass them.

--The Federal Trade Commission's 2003 survey of regulators in 11 legal direct shipping states found "no evidence suggesting direct shipping increases underage access" and that "state bans on direct shipping prevent consumers from saving as much as 21 percent on some wines and from conveniently purchasing many popular wines from suppliers around the country."

--Press coverage has been consistently in favor of consumer access to wine, and consistent with findings of the FTC and testimony by alcohol regulators:

"These laws (that prohibit direct shipments) violate the
        Constitution by discriminating against interstate commerce.
        They also hurt consumers by keeping prices artificially high
        and limiting their choices. The (U.S. Supreme) court should
        rule for the retailers and the consumers challenging these
        laws." New York Times, editorial, June 2, 2004

        "Wholesalers have been playing the underage drinking card to
        protect their monopoly." The Wall Street Journal, editorial,
        April 5, 2002

A wine war pits wine consumers--who want to purchase wine directly from wineries--against the multi-billion dollar wine wholesaler cartel, who want all purchases to flow through them. Since 1986, 26 states have opened to legal, regulated direct shipments from out-of-state wineries to adult consumers. These states have procedural safeguards in place that are satisfying state alcohol regulators and tax collectors, and are meeting the needs of a dynamic, national marketplace of American wineries and wine consumers. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to review the case in fall 2004. For more information on direct shipping and underage access, visit www.pointclickthink.com and for Free the Grapes! visit www.freethegrapes.org.