A bill could end a more than 100-year-old ban that prevents the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from mailing alcoholic beverages to consumers. On Monday, Democratic Representative Jackie Speier of California and Republican Representative Dan Newhouse of Washington, along with 17 other House co-sponsors, introduced the "USPS Shipping Equity Act" that would allow the Postal Service to ship alcoholic beverages directly from licensed producers and retailers to consumers over the age of 21 as long as it complied with all other state and local laws.
“In most states, private carriers such as FedEx and UPS deliver alcoholic beverages,” said Rep. Speier. “It makes no sense to create a competitive disadvantage for the USPS by barring them from these kinds of shipments, especially given the Postal Service’s dire financial condition.”
“The USPS Shipping Equity Act would give rural producers access to another option for shipping alcoholic beverages, thereby increasing market access and enabling central Washington businesses to continue to invest in our communities,” added Rep. Newhouse.
