Ehrlich on Washington column, December 28, 1997

с ON WASHINGTON 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland Washington, D.C. 20515 Week of December 28, 1997 315 Cannon House Office Building By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. IT’S TIME TO STOP KIDS FROM BUYING ALCOHOL ONLINE During this holiday season, many adults, and, unfortunately, many minors as well, will celebrate by consuming a wide range of alcohol beverages. While the problems of underage drinking and driving have been widely reported, the issue of how kids get alcohol remains largely unaddressed. Often a parent, friend, or older sibling agrees to buy alcohol for them. There is, however, a new way for kids to buy alcohol themselves — the Internet. The advent of the Internet has opened up many possibilities. One of its unhappier consequences is that any teenager with access to someone’s credit card number and a home computer can purchase alcohol beverages. A recent sting operation conducted by the New York State’s Attorney’s Office uncovered 12 wine and liquor distributors which allegedly delivered alcohol to minors without demanding proof of age. Today, illegal shipments of beer, wine, and distilled spirits sold over the Internet or through direct mail have blossomed into a $1 billion a year business. As a result, states’ rights are routinely violated, state governments are losing tax revenues, and minors are buying alcohol simply by logging onto their computers. With respect to states’ rights, the U. S. Constitution and federal law prohibit the interstate shipment of alcohol beverages in violation of applicable state law. State laws vary widely with respect to the direct shipment of alcohol beverages; Maryland, for example, prohibits it entirely. While states have jurisdiction to regulate and tax alcohol products, they do not have an enforcement mechanism to prosecute and deter those who ship in violation of state law.