On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced S. 5069, the Senate companion bill to H.R. 3721, the USPS Shipping Equity Act.
Currently, private shipping companies like FedEx can ship alcohol, but the USPS cannot. The USPS Shipping Equity Act allows USPS to ship alcoholic beverages directly from licensed producers and retailers to consumers over the age of 21, in accordance with state and local shipping regulations. The bill gives USPS two years to develop regulations and implement the law, ensuring USPS is ready to safely deliver alcoholic beverages to adult consumers with appropriate identification checks in place.
The market for direct-to-consumer shipping continues to soar with e-commerce sales expected to reach $40 billion by 2027, but breweries, distilleries, wineries, and other producers are confined by limited shipping options to get their products to customers. The USPS Shipping Equity Act would level the playing field for alcohol shipping and establish a new source of revenue for USPS. This bill is estimated to generate $190 million annually for the Postal Service.
It would also expand access to consumers for direct-to-consumer shipments. While USPS ships to every household in the nation, private carriers do not, especially in rural areas, leaving many Americans without access to direct-to-consumer alcohol shipments.
You can read a summary of the USPS Shipping Equity Act by clicking here, and the full text of the legislation by clicking here. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Patty Murray (D-WA).
Click here to read the press release from Sen. Merkley and Sen. Gillibrand with a quote from the NRLCA.
Contact your Senators and Representatives: Shipping Equity Act Form Letter (House) and Shipping Equity Form Letter (Senate).
