The Washington state House passed a measure late last Saturday that allows grocery stores to offer beer and wine tasting events on a 72-22 vote. It now goes to the Senate.
In 2008, a pilot project for beer and wine tasting in grocery stores was approved by the Legislature, but that program ended in September, according to a news report.
The bill passed Saturday allows grocery stores to continue to offer the tastings. Under the measure, wineries and breweries can conduct pouring, bottle signing, and other similar activities in conjunction with a tasting.
What is common between Washington, New York and Delhi is that they are a part of the Federal System of two of the biggest world democracies where each State decides independently of the alcohol marketing policies.
The US came out of the neo-prohibition in the nineteen thirties whereas the Indian constitution that came into being sixty years ago actively encourages states to be pro-prohibition. Gujarat and Mizoram are two Indian states that follow prohibition.
Perceptibly, the Delhi government would issue the gazette notification to allow the sale of wine and beer in the department stores whereas the other states follow the Washington example |