July 17th – Today the National Association of Wine Retailers (NAWR) President David A. Parker released the following statement regarding the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ reversal of the Ohio Federal District Court’s ruling permitting the discriminatory Ohio law barring Ohio residents from receiving wine shipments from out-of-state wine retailers:
“NAWR is pleased with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ reversal of a lower court decision upholding Ohio’s
The reversal and remand back down to the district court in the case of Block v Canepa will require Ohio to present concrete evidence that allowing out-of-state wine retailer shipments substantively damages the health and safety of Ohio residents in a way that allowing shipping from in-state wine retailers and out of state wineries does not.
“NAWR is also gratified that the Sixth Circuit noted in its decision that “Plaintiffs provided an expert report from the Executive Director of the National Association of Wine Retailers detailing his opinion as to the practical effects of the Direct Ship Restriction on Ohio consumers.” NAWR is dedicated to bringing to light the protectionist effect of Ohio’s law, as well as the positive practical impact of retailer direct shipping on the state government and the state’s consumers who are otherwise denied access to imported and high-quality wines available only from select retailers in the United States.
“Several states continue to unfairly burden their wine-drinking residents and restrict interstate commerce through their protectionist wine shipping laws that allow in-state retailers to ship to their residents but bar out-of-state wine retailers from doing the same. NAWR looks forward to Block v Canepa going forward in the District Court and eventually bringing greater access to the hundreds of thousands of wines Ohio residents cannot access now due to the state’s unconstitutional and protectionist anti-shipping law.”
ABOUT NAWR
NAWR is a national trade organization representing brick-and-mortar wine retailers, online wine retailers, wine clubs, and auction houses. NAWR advocates on behalf of its members and wine consumers on a state and national level seeking a level regulatory playing field and modernization of the state’s archaic alcohol regulations.
