Ongoing issues in midyear
As we reach the midpoint of the year, here is a summary of current legislative activity of note around the country for DTC wine shipping issues.
States of note:
- Arizona
- Delaware
- Louisiana
- New Jersey
- New York
Arizona
There has been some conflicting information available about potential new requirements for wineries utilizing fulfillment warehouses under Arizona’s DTC shipping program. Wine Institute’s team and DLLC staff met to discuss this. It was confirmed that the current DTC wine shipping program requirements have not changed, and no changes are on the horizon.
Delaware
The new law passed in August of last year is set to take effect as of August 15, 2026. However, there are still many conversations taking place to try to resolve some of the more problematic aspects of this new legislation. Free the Grapes! put up a strong fight against this bill, DE HB 187, when it was introduced and passed in 2025. A number of groups, including the common carriers, came out with strong concerns regarding restrictions and requirements of this new DTC shipping law, and these conversations continue.
Take action in Delaware: Click on the link to write to your DE legislator and let them know that the new bill denies your true right to freedom of consumer choice in DTC wine shipping.
Louisiana
The state has recently removed limitations on container sizes for wine. Starting August 1, 2026, wine packaged in any container size authorized by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau may be sold or shipped into Louisiana. This change applies both to wholesale and DTC sales.
New Jersey
There are two bills that have been introduced in both the Assembly and the Senate: A.1684 (Reynolds-Jackson) and S. 2166 (Zwicker) are companion bills. They call for the removal of the 250,000-gallon capacity cap on wineries that would otherwise qualify for the NJ direct wine shipper license. This would allow wineries of that size to ship up to 12 cases of wine directly to NJ consumers.
Throughout April, Free the Grapes (FTG) undertook a campaign in NJ to put the message about the state’s problem capacity cap law in front of more than 140,000 residents who likely didn't know FTG existed. This took the form of a newsletter to 1,600 residents, public relations outreach to 30 writers and newspapers, as well as blogs and social media posts to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. The campaign drove nearly 2,800 new visitors to the FTG website and generated 352 letters to legislators in support of these bills. In early June, Wine Institute will meet with sponsors, committee members, and members of the new Governor’s staff to capitalize on these efforts.
Take Action in NJ: Click the link to write a letter to your NJ legislator and let them know how frustrated you are with this significant restriction on DTC wine shipping, which affects freedom of consumer choice in wine!
New York
In New York, there are a few items of interest to be aware of, though they may not immediately have any implications for direct shipping in the state.
The NYC Health Department recently implemented an advertising campaign, called “Buzzkill”, which spreads warnings across the city through various channels that alcohol is a known carcinogen. It is the first major American city to do so. At the same time, there is a bill in the New York State House that also calls for restrictions on advertising for alcoholic beverages and other regulated products. HB 11335 (Rules Committee) would restrict advertisements for alcoholic beverages and require an alcoholism hotline number on each ad. It would require the SLA to promulgate rules that require licensees to implement responsible drinking programs that include comprehensive employee training on responding to circumstances in which individuals present signs of alcohol abuse or suffering, and require such licensee or permit holder to assess, prevent and address alcohol abuse. The bill is in the Assembly Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce, and Industry committee.
On a different front, the Senate is considering SB 10272 (Skoufis), which would relax licensing restrictions regarding tied-house provisions. New York's Alcoholic Beverage Control Law prohibits a distributor (wholesaler) or manufacturer from holding an interest, directly or indirectly, in a licensed retailer of alcoholic beverages, such as a restaurant. Likewise, a retailer may not hold an interest, directly or indirectly, in a distributor or manufacturer. This bill amends the alcoholic beverage control law regarding licensing restrictions for manufacturers, wholesalers, and retail licensees of alcoholic beverages. The bill modifies restrictions on business interests between different types of alcohol license holders. The bill is in the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee.
Stay connected through our press and blog for the latest updates—and thank you for being part of the movement to modernize DTC wine shipping!
