Wine and Spirits Distributors of Indiana

Indiana alcohol distributor group changes name, launches new Web site

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:10:02 -0500

Indiana alcohol distributor group changes name, launches new Web site

INDIANAPOLIS - The Wine and Spirits Distributors of Indiana (WSDI), formerly the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana, has launched a new Web site " www.WineandSpiritsIndiana.org" to educate the public about its role in the responsible distribution of alcohol. WSDI is a not-for-profit trade association that serves its members' interests and advocates an alcohol distribution system that maintains public safety, consumer protection and consumer choice.

"With the launch of our new Web site, we hope to reach thousands of consumers concerned about the alcohol industry," said Jim Purucker, WSDI's executive director. "We take our motto - 'Serve Responsibly' - to heart. Each of the member companies that make up WSDI is committed to safeguarding alcohol distribution."

The organization is made up of Indiana fine wine and spirits distributors, including National Wine & Spirits and Olinger Distributing. WSDI also partners with other distributors, including Monarch Beverage, a leading Indiana beer and wine distributor. Like many states, Indiana's alcohol market operates under a three-tier system: alcohol producers sell only to Indiana-licensed distributors, who in turn sell only to Indiana-licensed retailers, who then sell to consumers. This system gives Hoosiers a very efficient system of regulating the sales and consumption of alcohol.

Because of Indiana's wine, spirits and beer distributors and the three-tier distribution system, the state of Indiana is able to track alcohol within its borders in a transparent, accountable and efficient manner. Hoosier consumers can rest assured that alcohol products are safe, that their beverage of choice is on the shelf at local retailers, and that minors' access to alcohol is reduced.

WSDI also provides members with representation before the Indiana General Assembly, state agencies, regulatory bodies, courts, alcohol beverage industry organizations and the general public. In addition, the organization supports social responsibility efforts to enforce Indiana's interest in eliminating underage and abusive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol distributor group reminds Hoosiers to serve responsibly

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:08:46 -0600

'Tis the season to be jolly - but not drunk!

Alcohol distributor group reminds Hoosiers to serve responsibly

INDIANAPOLIS - December ushers in a month of merriment and also a time to reflect on the laws which protect consumers. Seventy-five years ago, on Dec. 5, a final majority of states ratified the 21st amendment to do away with Prohibition. To that end, the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana (WSWI) advocates an alcohol distribution system that maintains public safety, consumer protection and consumer choice. As you raise a glass this holiday season to toast the future, WSWI reminds Hoosiers to be safe and offers these 10 tips from the ServSafe Alcohol training program for hosting a responsible holiday party:

Avoid self-service of alcohol. Consider hiring a professional bartender who can help monitor guest consumption.
Offer nonalcoholic beverages as an alternative.
Offer food. Limit salty foods such as peanuts, pretzels and chips that make guests thirsty and may increase their consumption. Foods high in fat and/or protein help keep alcohol in the stomach, slowing the rate alcohol enters the bloodstream.
Avoid over-pouring drinks. This can help monitor guests' Blood Alcohol Content (BAC).
Avoid serving guests more than one drink at a time. This will help pace consumption. It takes one hour for the body to process one standard drink. (A standard drink is 1.5 oz. of 80-proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer or 5 oz. of wine.)
If you don't know the age of a guest, check identification. Don't allow friends or parents to provide alcohol to minor guests. Monitoring legal consumption will help communicate that you take responsible drinking seriously.
Observe guests for signs of intoxication, such as relaxed inhibitions, impaired judgment, slowed reaction time, impaired motor coordination.
If a guest becomes impaired, wait until the guest orders another drink before stopping service. (Sometimes a guest may decide on their own that their current drink is the last.)
Stop serving alcohol beverages an hour before the party ends.
Ensure an intoxicated guest gets home safely. Arrange alternate transportation - call a cab, ask a companion who is not intoxicated to drive, or call the guest's friend or relative.

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The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana (WSWI) is a not-for-profit trade association representing the state's leading alcohol distributors, including Olinger and National Wine and Spirits. The organization supports Indiana's legitimate interest in regulating alcohol distribution to maintain public safety, consumer protection and consumer choice. The mission of WSWI is to maintain Indiana's three-tier distribution system as an effective means for advancing this interest.

Federal appeals court affirms Indiana's right to limit underage access to alcohol

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:43:08 -0500

Federal appeals court affirms Indiana's right to limit underage access to alcohol

INDIANAPOLIS - The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana (WSWI) praised today's decision by the United States 7th Circuit Court of Appeals which recognizes Indiana's vital interest in and efforts to keep alcohol out of minors' hands. In Baude v. Heath, the appeals court overturned a district court's decision to eliminate the requirement for initial face-to-face transactions in alcohol purchases. This appeals court decision reinstates the need for proper age verification in instances where wineries, and other alcohol manufacturers, may ship products directly to consumers.

Jim Purucker, executive director for WSWI, said, "Since the 21st Amendment passed 75 years ago, Indiana, like many other states, has relied on an effective alcohol distribution system with safeguards in place to keep minors from purchasing alcohol. Without the face-to-face transaction requirement, a minor could easily order alcohol from a winery online or over the phone, and have the alcohol delivered to his or her doorstep - all without legitimate age verification and with no accountability for the persons selling or delivering the alcohol. We are pleased the appeals court ruled strongly in favor of maintaining the face-to-face transaction requirement."

Indiana employs a transparent and accountable three-tier alcohol distribution system requiring alcoholic beverages to be distributed from a manufacturer to a state-licensed wholesaler and then to a state-licensed retailer. In addition to successfully limiting underage access, this system is designed to protect tax collection and product integrity, as well as broaden consumer choice.

This case was initiated by a Michigan winery and a group of wine hobbyists to overturn Indiana's laws involving direct shipment of wine from manufacturers to consumers. The appeals court rejected the plaintiffs' claim that the face-to-face requirement discriminates against out-of-state alcohol manufacturers and that it does not serve a legitimate state interest.

The appeals court rejected the plaintiffs' argument that the face-to-face requirement is not needed because minors will find a way to bypass the system. According to the court's opinion, a legal system can still have legitimate benefits even if it's not foolproof. The appeals court said, "The face-to-face requirement makes it harder for minors to get wine. Anything that raises the cost of an activity will diminish the quantity - not to zero, but no law is or need be fully effective."

The appeals court affirmed the district court's ruling in favor of allowing those wineries who currently can ship products wholesale to retailers, to now ship wine products directly to Indiana consumers ordering over the Internet or by phone. WSWI was disappointed in this decision to expand the number of wineries allowed to ship directly to consumers. Fortunately, however, the face-to-face rule on the first transaction will apply for these wineries, as well.

"By allowing more wineries to obtain direct-to-consumer shipping permits, Indiana minors may have more opportunities to illegally purchase wine over the Internet or phone," Purucker said. "Thankfully, we maintained Indiana's face-to-face rule, and that measure will help limit minors' access to alcohol."

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Coalition provides alcohol retailers with a sign of the times

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:47:45 -0500

Coalition provides alcohol retailers with a sign of the times

"Providing or selling alcohol to minors will now cost you more," says Lisa Hutcheson, Director of the Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking. When a new alcohol law, HEA 1118, goes into effect on July 1, financial penalties and time served will both increase.

The law allows for an increase in the penalties for providing alcohol to minors from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B or a Class A (if there are subsequent offenses). And, if the alcohol consumption results in a serious injury or death, the penalty could increase to a Class D felony.

According to Hutcheson, these new penalties also affect the wallet of the accused. The law levies heavier fines as well as an increase in jail time.

Stemming the Flow of Alcohol to Minors

To encourage alcohol retailers to join in the efforts of the coalition, free store signage (counter and cash register signs) is available to alert customers to have ID ready. "Checking the ID of anyone who purchases alcohol is one way that retailers can reduce youth access to alcohol," said Hutcheson.

The new law encompasses many other changes to alcohol regulation in Indiana: establishes the definition of a grocery store, re-aligns the system for alcohol permit quotas, and affords the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission and local law enforcement agencies the authority to conduct alcohol compliance checks. Minors who use illegal IDs to attempt to purchase alcohol will also face stiffer penalties, with the new law applying charges of a Class C misdemeanor instead of an infraction.

"Indiana law makers are taking an important step in controlling the availability of alcohol through passage of this law. Alcohol abuse by our children results in a tremendous loss of human potential. Much remains to be done. We need to carefully watch for the outcome of the legislative study committee which will be reviewing all aspects of the 21st Amendment," says Jim Killen, an advocate representing the Children's Coalition of Indiana who also worked diligently to see the bill through its passage into law.

As part of HB 1118, legislators will spend the next two years studying the 21st amendment and how well the three-tier system of manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer serves the interest of Hoosiers. "We are particularly interested in continued efforts to curb alcohol use by minors and look forward to providing the Study Committee with information about the many ways the three-tier system helps Hoosier consumers and keeps alcohol out of the hands of people Indiana has determined shouldn't have it," says Jim Purucker, Executive Director of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana. "The bill's increased penalties are a step in the right direction."

"Though the bill was cumbersome at times and complex, we feel it was a good compromise between alcohol industry interests and public health concerns," said Hutcheson. "We would like to once again thank Representative Trent Van Haaften (D-Mt. Vernon), Representative Matt Bell (R-Avilla), and Senator Tom Weatherwax (R - Logansport) for their diligence and commitment to this bill which will help to reduce youth access to alcohol."

The Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking is a program of Mental Health America of Indiana.

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Letter to the Editor: General Assembly acts to preserve Indiana's alcohol distribution system

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:20:55 -0500

Letter to the Editor: General Assembly acts to preserve Indiana's alcohol distribution system

by Jim Purucker

In a short legislative session where property taxes dominated the floor, the Indiana General Assembly once again affirmed the critical importance of the state's current system for alcohol beverage distribution.

For nearly 75 years, Indiana has used a "three-tier system," so called because the state-regulated distribution of alcoholic beverages goes from a producer to a distributor to a retailer. Thanks to this structured system, also successfully used in the majority of other U.S. states, Hoosiers can be assured that safeguards are in place to maintain an inventory allowing for fantastic retail access and consumer choice of quality-controlled products and reduce access to minors. Alcohol distributors function as an extension of the State Excise Police, only accepting and delivering products from licensed producers and to licensed retailers. Distributors are also considered an extension of the Indiana Department of Revenue because we directly pay over $40 million in state excise taxes and only deliver to retailers who are in good standing on their taxes.

Once again in this year's session, some wineries claimed that distributors are stymieing wine market growth with unnecessary shipping limitations. While I would agree that distributors favor the state's position that shipping of alcoholic beverages should be controlled, I would hardly call the wine industry's growth stymied. In fact, Indiana lawmakers in this session increased the yearly amount of product a winery can sell from 500,000 to 1 million gallons. Indiana's wine industry has not been held back by alcohol distributors - according to the Indiana Wine Grape Council, the industry is growing at a rapid rate of about 15 percent annually in gallons sold.

Contrary to some opinions in the wine industry, alcohol distributors are partly to thank for the wine industry's growth. Indiana distributors play an important role in helping market Indiana wines to retailers, especially from smaller wineries. We maintain strong relationships with major Indiana wine producers, such as Oliver Winery and Easely Winery, helping boost their presence in the marketplace.

In their wisdom, the Indiana Legislature did reject the Indiana wine industry's efforts to increase the direct shipping limit for wine from 3,000 cases each year in-state to 10,000 cases. The current 3,000 figure is already meeting, in many cases exceeding, the consumer demand for wines produced by the small wineries who are most interested in raising the limit. Raising the limit would allow more alcohol products to bypass the safeguards built into the current three-tier system.

The fact is the three-tier system works for Indiana. By maintaining today's system, consumption is regulated, pricing is fair, and face-to-face purchase transactions are mandated to help reduce underage drinking.

The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana applaud the Indiana General Assembly for reinforcing our state's continued need for a safe, transparent and economically sound alcohol distribution system. We will continue to defend our state's system proven successful not only in Indiana, but across the country.

Jim Purucker is executive director of Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana, a state-mandated, not-for-profit trade association that serves as Indiana's alcohol import manager and represents the state's leading alcohol distributors.

Indiana alcoholic beverage distributors donate $30,000 to Hamilton County

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:08:46 -0600

Funding grant maintains Hamilton County's Fatal Alcohol Crash Team

Indiana alcoholic beverage distributors donate $30,000 to Hamilton County

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. - Hamilton County's Fatal Alcohol Crash Team (FACT) will remain in operation through 2008, thanks to a $30,000 grant from three Indiana alcoholic beverage distributors: National Wine and Spirits, Olinger Distributing and Monarch Beverage Company. Company representatives presented the grant to Hamilton County Prosecutor Sonia Leerkamp and FACT staff on Monday, Nov. 19.

A $58,000 shortfall earlier this year forced FACT to seek funding from other resources or end the program. Since 2005, FACT has worked with law enforcement agencies in Hamilton County to determine if alcohol or drugs were involved in traffic accidents. FACT members conduct extensive investigations at the crash scene, including detailed photography and measurements. All evidence is gathered and individuals involved in the crash are interviewed to determine if criminal charges are warranted.

"This generous donation by National Wine and Spirits, Olinger and Monarch enables FACT to continue to bring the highest standards of investigation and response to accidents where drivers may have been impaired with alcohol or drugs," said Leerkamp.

Keeping FACT in operation aligns with the distributors' commitment to the responsible use of alcohol, said Jim Purucker, executive director of Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana (WSWI). The state-mandated, not-for-profit trade association serves as Indiana's alcohol import manager and represents National Wine and Spirits and Olinger.

"We had a unique opportunity to help the Hamilton County law enforcement agencies with this valuable program that has a 100 percent conviction rate of impaired drivers involved in accidents in Hamilton County," said Purucker.

FACT Coordinator, Lt. Troy Fettinger, Fishers Police Department, said maintaining the program offers continued support to local law enforcement.

"By bringing in highly specialized and trained crash-scene investigators, we are able to get more convictions, and that keeps impaired drivers off the roads," said Fettinger.

Beth Gehlhausen, coordinator of SNAP, a Hamilton County program dedicated to increasing awareness about teen-age alcohol and drug use and prevention methods, commends National, Olinger, and Monarch for providing the funds to keep FACT in operation.

"The grant donated by National, Olinger and Monarch is another step in the right direction toward safer, sober roads in our state," Gehlhausen said. "Whether this grant helps FACT and Hamilton County law enforcement bring justice for one individual or dozens who are injured or killed by drunk drivers, it will more than pay for itself in the value it brings to those lives."

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Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana encourages a responsible alcohol market by solely servicing licensed retailers.