Rep. Bill Delahunt (D, Mass) has introduced some of the most idiotic legislation I’ve ever seen. Under H.R. 5034, individual states could actually set their own formulas, bottling and labeling standards for what constitutes bourbon. This means Oregon could have entirely different standards as to what bourbon is than, say, Kentucky. Of course, since 95% of the bourbon produced in the U.S. is in Kentucky, this could have a devastating effect on that states economy. Consumers and enthusiasts need the current standards to stay in place so that when someone buys bourbon, they actually get to enjoy bourbon, not some half assed spirit that a bunch of politicians decided to let their state make. What really bothers me is that this bill has 98 cosponsors. Call or email Rep. Delahunt and your local Congressman (mine’s Earl Blumenauer) and let them know that you are opposed to H.R. 5034. I’m attaching the press release from DISCUS below, and this link to find your Congressman’s email address. We need to write, call and do everything we can to stop this legislation from destroying our national spirit, Bourbon.

KENTUCKY DISTILLERS WARN CONGRESS

H.R. 5034 COULD DESTROY BOURBON INDUSTRY

Bill could “wipe out centuries of Kentucky craftsmanship, quality and heritage”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA), a Kentucky-based trade group representing world renowned Bourbon brands, today sent a letter to the Congressional Bourbon Caucus and every member of Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation, urging strong opposition to wholesaler-crafted legislation that would significantly damage Kentucky’s signature Bourbon industry.

KDA President Eric Gregory highlighted the legislation’s “many far-reaching and negative consequences” noting that under the bill individual states could establish their own formulas, labeling and bottling standards for Bourbon, overriding uniform federal requirements as now prescribed by the U.S. Treasury Department.

“For more than 200 years, Kentucky’s legendary distilleries have crafted the world’s finest Bourbons, using a time-honored process that today is regulated by strict federal ‘standards of identity’…Allowing individual states to concoct a whiskey and call it ‘Bourbon,’ based on their own definition, would destroy the industry as we know it today,” Gregory wrote. “On behalf of Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry, I strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 5034 and ask that you make your colleagues aware of its potentially disastrous repercussions.”

H. R. 5034 strips away the protections of the Commerce Clause and effectively exempts state alcohol laws from all federal laws, such as the federal antitrust statutes, the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and other important laws that provide critical consumer protections and prohibit price-fixing and other anti-competitive behavior.

And here is the letter to Congress.

May 24, 2010

The Honorable Brett Guthrie

U.S. House of Representatives

Kentucky, 2nd District

510 Cannon Building

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Guthrie:

A bill recently introduced in Congress could significantly damage Kentucky’s signature Bourbon industry. I am writing today to ask you to oppose H.R. 5034 on behalf of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and our member distilleries.

H.R. 5034 has many far-reaching and negative consequences for all sectors of the beverage alcohol industry. Its proponents claim that it is needed to protect state-based alcohol regulation – yet it goes much farther than that.

Here is a direct example of its potential impact to our distilling industry:

For more than 200 years, Kentucky’s legendary distilleries have crafted the world’s finest Bourbons, using a time-honored process that today is regulated by strict federal “standards of identity.”

But under H.R. 5034, individual states could establish their own formulas, labeling and bottling standards for Bourbon, overriding the uniform federal requirements as now prescribed by the U.S. Treasury Department.

As a result, any state could then create its own competing definition of Bourbon that would wipe out centuries of Kentucky craftsmanship, quality and heritage.

Allowing individual states to concoct a whiskey and call it “Bourbon,” based on their own definition, would destroy the industry as we know it today.

The resulting chaos would undermine one of the Commonwealth’s most important economic and tourism industries and a thriving global export. As you know, Kentucky produces 95 percent of the world’s Bourbon, and its impact in the Bluegrass is staggering:

  • 10,000 good-paying jobs
  • $125 million each year in tax revenue
  • $100 million in current capital investment
  • Nearly 500,000 annual visits to the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail®
  • More than $750 million in U.S. exports

Kentucky is proud to be the birthplace of Bourbon, and the only place in the world where visitors can enjoy the true Bourbon experience. H.R. 5034 threatens that tradition and jeopardizes a growing, successful industry that is hailed around the world.

On behalf of Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry, I strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 5034 and ask that you make your colleagues aware of its potentially disastrous repercussions.

Sincerely,

Eric Gregory

President

Kentucky Distillers’ Association

Congress screws us enough. Lets stand up to them and protect the bourbon industry.