Today, U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) introduced the bipartisan USPS Shipping Equity Act to allow the United States Postal Service (USPS) to ship alcoholic beverages to consumers.
The legislation allows the USPS to ship directly from licensed producers and retailers to consumers over the age of 21, in accordance with state and local laws at the delivery location. It levels the playing field and increases consumer and manufacturer choice while bringing in millions of dollars in revenue per year. The legislation is supported by industry partners including the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA).
“We thank Representatives Newhouse and Subramanyam for their bipartisan legislation, says ACSA CEO Margie A.S. Lehrman. “As our small, domestic businesses have grown over the past 15 years, allowing the USPS to ship craft spirits will provide access to another important delivery option for small distillers in the U.S. Many of those distilleries are located in rural areas where support of their local Main Street matters. Access to the thirty-one thousand post offices in the U.S. would be a game changer, helping their small businesses to succeed and grow. We hope the Congress will act soon on this important small business initiative.”
“The wine, beer, and spirits industries are at a real disadvantage in delivering their high-quality products across the country,” says Rep. Newhouse. “While other carriers deliver alcohol, current law prohibits the United States Postal Service from doing so. This legislation supports small craft breweries and wineries in rural areas like Central Washington and offers new opportunities for market access through the USPS. I thank Rep. Subramanyam for joining me in introducing this bipartisan legislation as we work to unlock the USPS for our local producers.”
Adds Rep. Subramanyam, “This Prohibition-era restriction on the Postal Service is unnecessary and imposes on consumers and our small businesses. “I’m thrilled to partner with Congressman Newhouse on a bipartisan fix to expand opportunities available to our local breweries, vineyards, and distilleries and provide a new source of revenue for USPS.”
Don Matson, president of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, notes, “The NRLCA thanks Congressman Newhouse and Congressman Subramanyam for introducing the USPS Shipping Equity Act, legislation that modernizes outdated regulations and allows the Postal Service to deliver products like wine, beer, and spirits. This act promotes fairness by allowing USPS to compete on equal footing with private carriers, creating new opportunities for rural communities and small businesses to expand through USPS’s reliable service. It also generates revenue that can be reinvested to improve customer service. It’s a commonsense reform that helps USPS meet the needs of modern society and drive economic growth across the country.”
Full bill text here.