OREGON Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley and New York Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have introduce a bill to end the US Postal Service (USPS) ban on shipping alcohol, reports KOIN 6 News Portland.
The senators' USPS Shipping Equity Act would allow USPS to ship alcoholic beverages directly from licensed producers and retailers to consumers 21-years-old and older in accordance with state and local shipping regulations.
While private shipping companies such as FedEx can already ship alcohol, a Prohibition-era ban prevents the USPS from shipping alcoholic beverages.
The bill would give the USPS two years to develop regulations and implement the law to ensure the agency can safely make the deliveries to adult consumers with identification checks in place.
Sen Merkley said there's two key factors behind the push to include the USPS in shipping alcohol. First, USPS ships to rural destinations, so the bill could provide shipping access to alcohol for people in remote areas. Second, the bill could provide competition for shipping rates.
'All American businesses deserve the same access to the US Postal Service when it comes to delivering their products to their consumers - and we all have a vested interest in making sure the USPS thrives,' Sen Merkley said.
'Finally eliminating a Prohibition-era ban on shipping wine, beer, and spirits through the mail will ensure that wineries, breweries, and distillers in oregon and throughout America have another option to consider when it comes to selling their world-class products, while also helping to boost the competitiveness of the USPS.'
'We have a hugely-growing spirits industry in Oregon. It's grown from 2009, we had 14 spirits makers - that's something other than beer and wine - to now 100 and it accounts for a big sector of our economy, some US$2 billion,' Sen. Merkley told KOIN 6 News.
Senators Merkley and Gillibrand said the USPS Shipping Equity Act would 'level the playing field' for alcohol producers and retailers and would generate an estimated $190 million per year for the Postal Service.
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The senators' USPS Shipping Equity Act would allow USPS to ship alcoholic beverages directly from licensed producers and retailers to consumers 21-years-old and older in accordance with state and local shipping regulations.
While private shipping companies such as FedEx can already ship alcohol, a Prohibition-era ban prevents the USPS from shipping alcoholic beverages.
The bill would give the USPS two years to develop regulations and implement the law to ensure the agency can safely make the deliveries to adult consumers with identification checks in place.
Sen Merkley said there's two key factors behind the push to include the USPS in shipping alcohol. First, USPS ships to rural destinations, so the bill could provide shipping access to alcohol for people in remote areas. Second, the bill could provide competition for shipping rates.
'All American businesses deserve the same access to the US Postal Service when it comes to delivering their products to their consumers - and we all have a vested interest in making sure the USPS thrives,' Sen Merkley said.
'Finally eliminating a Prohibition-era ban on shipping wine, beer, and spirits through the mail will ensure that wineries, breweries, and distillers in oregon and throughout America have another option to consider when it comes to selling their world-class products, while also helping to boost the competitiveness of the USPS.'
'We have a hugely-growing spirits industry in Oregon. It's grown from 2009, we had 14 spirits makers - that's something other than beer and wine - to now 100 and it accounts for a big sector of our economy, some US$2 billion,' Sen. Merkley told KOIN 6 News.
Senators Merkley and Gillibrand said the USPS Shipping Equity Act would 'level the playing field' for alcohol producers and retailers and would generate an estimated $190 million per year for the Postal Service.
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