Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, June 15, 1999

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Lutherville, Maryland 21093 Washington, D.C. 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Jill Homan June 15, 1999 202/225-3061 CONGRESSMAN EHRLICH TJNVETLS LEGISLATION TO STOP CYBER-BOOTEEGOTNG Comptroller William Schaefer Endorses Bill WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. has introduced legislation, the State’s Responsible Alcohol Access Enforcement Act, aimed at ending modem day bootlegging conducted via the Internet. "Many sellers of alcohol beverages are bypassing long-standing state licensing and tax requirements thanks to the relative anonymity of Internet commerce," Ehrlich observed. "Moreover, they are unable to properly police who buys their products. After all, it’s next to impossible to check someone’s identification when that person is sitting in front of a computer hundreds of miles away." As a result, wholesalers and retailers lose business, state governments lose between $200 and $600 million in tax revenues each year, and minors have access to alcohol beverages sent directly to their doorsteps. States have authority to regulate the sale, purchase, and consumption of alcohol beverages pursuant to the Twenty-First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. While existing federal law prohibits the shipment of alcohol beverages in violation of state law, it provides no effective enforcement mechanism. (MORE)