Report: California Alcohol Wholesalers Among Top in the Nation in Political Contributions

According to a new report issued today by the Specialty Wine Retailers Association (SWRA), California alcohol wholesalers contributed $4.2 million to California state political campaigns between 2000 and 2006, more than wholesalers in any other state save Texas, Illinois and Massachusetts. In addition, the report, entitled “Wholesale Protection,” found that the California Beer & Beverage Distributors Association was among the top ten alcohol wholesaler entities nationwide when it came to state political contributions.

The report shows that between 2000 and 2006 American alcohol wholesalers contributed $50 million to state political campaigns, far and away out-contributing other sectors of the American alcohol industry including wineries, beer producers and retailers–combined.

“California alcohol wholesalers clearly have one thing in mind with their enormous contributions to state campaigns: gain influence and access,” said Tom Wark, executive director of SWRA. “Unfortunately for consumers and free trade they are largely able to obtain this access and influence.”

In 2005, on the strong urging of state and national alcohol wholesalers, the California legislature passed a law prohibiting Californians from purchasing wine from nearly every out-of-state retailer in America. The result of such laws is less access to wine by Californians and higher prices for many of the wines they used to be able to purchase directly from retailers across the country. However, as a result of the new law, SB 118, California alcohol wholesalers found themselves protected from out-of-state competition. SWRA is currently challenging the ban on out-of state retailers.

“No one disputes the alcohol wholesalers’ right to participate in the political process, but when the results of their participation leads to the detriment of consumers and other members of the industry it is time to consider the circumstances surrounding their involvement,” says Wark.

The “Wholesale Protection” report available for download at http://www.specialtywineretailers.org/documents.html. The report looks at total contributions by alcohol wholesalers from 2000 to 2006 on a state-by-state basis, as well as identifies the largest contributors in each state.

Specialty Wine Retailers Association is a nationwide organization of wine merchants organized to advocate on behalf of retailers and consumers for fair, constitutional laws concerning alcohol distribution and direct-to-consumer sales.