Raise a Glass

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated antediluvian and protectionist state laws that prevent direct sale and shipment of wine by out-of-state vendors to consumers, at least in states which allow direct shipment by in-state wineries. The case, Granholm v. Heald, can be [obtained online](http://a257.g .akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/16may20050800/www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/04pdf /03-1116.pdf). It remains to be seen whether this will have any practical impact in Pennsylvania, since I’m uncertain if PA allows direct shipment of wine by in-state wineries to consumers.

But I’m in favor of anything which has even a chance of damaging the quite useless and offensive State monopoly on alcohol sales. Here’s a toast to the hope that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is suddenly about to earn much less revenue.

Update: Eagle-eyed reader Julie Watt, webmaster of celiacnet.com, points to two articles in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette indicating that the rulings do affect Pennsylvania, and that the LCB is currently mulling over forbidding in-state wineries to ship to avoid having to allow consumers to have more choice. Read the articles here and [here](http://www .post-gazette.com/pg/05137/505466.stm). Pennsylvania: cutting off its nose to spite its face since 1883.