Costco Ruling A Potential Win For Consumers

Federal Judge Marsha Pechman ruled that the three tier distribution system in Washington state, as it now stands, violates the anti-trust Sherman act and that rules allowing retailers to buy direct from Washington wineries, but not out-of-state wineries, violate the interstate commerce clause of the constitution. This is a potential win for consumers, though I' m afraid the legislature will decide to allow no direct purchase from any wineries by consumers or retailers. This will be a truly perverse outcome. Both consumers and small wineries will suffer. Write or call your legislators and tell them you want to be able to buy direct from small wineries in and out-of-state.