Setting the table for more wine.(Viewpoint)

Crain's New York Business, May, 2005

The U.S. Supreme Court says that if New York allows wineries located in the state to ship their products directly to consumers, it must allow out-of-state rivals to do the same. The Legislature and Gov. George Pataki should use the court decision as an opportunity to overhaul the state's liquor industry, which is rigged against consumers.

New York's liquor laws have remained virtually unchanged since they were enacted at the end of Prohibition. They restrict the sale of wine and spirits to stand-alone liquor stores owned by a single individual or corporation. Supermarkets and other stores, such as delicatessens, can't sell any alcoholic beverages except beer, even though many states permit wine and spirits sales in a wide range of stores. New York bans...