National US wine distributors fight for survival against monolpolists state wholesalers

The fight to restrict direct wine sales in the United State continues as a revised version of the bill regulating alcohol sales is submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives and a public hearing is scheduled for September 29th. The hearing is a crucial step towards getting the bill to Congress for a vote. Critics, including wineries as well as distillers and breweries, argue that the bill would allow wholesalers to protect their turf from competition and prevent consumers from being able to buy wines and other alcoholic beverages not carried by local wholesalers.