Friday, December 23, 2005
Judge's decision will trigger wine-distribution changes
It seems a cut-and-dried decision: Either the Legislature can allow both in-state and out-of-state beer and wine producers to ship directly to Washington retailers, or forbid any suppliers from doing so.
That was the choice presented by U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman's ruling on Wednesday.
Distribution setup violates Sherman Act, judge says.
The way beer and wine is sold in Washington is going to change - though it isn't known how just yet - after a federal judge said in two separate rulings Wednesday that Washington's system for distribution...
Wednesday, December 21, 2005 · SEATTLE (AP)- A federal judge has concluded that the state may not allow in-state wineries and breweries to sell alcohol directly to retailers unless it extends the privilege to out-of-state producers.