Prevent USPS Alcohol Deliveries
The potential for increased alcohol-related harms associated with allowing the U.S. Postal Service to deliver alcohol to homes and communities would be enabled under the USPS Shipping Equity Act (H.R. 3721). The integrity of U.S. Legal Code 18 § 1716, which prevents USPS from carrying and delivering alcohol, must be maintained.
Expanding home delivery of alcohol disrupts the three-tier system (retailer, distributor/wholesaler, supplier/producer) which the U.S. relies upon to deliver alcohol safely, collect taxes, and enforce laws related to alcohol safety, including preventing minors from accessing alcohol.
Since the end of federal Prohibition, the 21st Amendment has granted the power to the states to set their laws for alcohol sales and distribution. Authorizing USPS to transport and deliver alcohol would introduce a federal delivery mechanism that could undermine the important state safeguards afforded by the three-tier system.
States are already struggling to maintain enforcement procedures for alcohol delivery requirements, such as ID checking and tracking the product through the supply chain to ensure the product is coming from a licensed shipper (e.g., retailer, producer). Should USPS be involved in illegal alcohol deliveries, that could create liability for the federal agency. Preparing postal employees for an uneven alcohol regulatory environment spanning 50 states and the District of Columbia would be an incredible financial burden.
A 2012 study found that when alcohol was purchased online by minors the required age verification at delivery was inconsistently conducted by common carriers (e.g., UPS and FedEx) and, when attempted, failed nearly half of the time! Allowing USPS to deliver alcohol for the sake of parity may only lead to increased underage drinking and potentially tragic consequences in our communities.
States have also lost tax revenues as a result of unlicensed producers/shippers directly shipping into a state without paying the required taxes. Home delivery by the USPS may exacerbate this issue.
Research suggests that alcohol-related deaths have been increasing since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with overall consumption. Deaths involving alcohol increased 25% in 2020 relative to 2019, and the largest increase in fatalities was seen in those aged 25-45. It is not in the best interest of the population’s health to increase home delivery using a federal agency. The CDC estimates that alcohol leads to approximately 140,000 deaths each year in the U.S., more than 380 deaths per day.
The integrity of the U.S. Legal Code 18 § 1716, which prevents USPS from carrying and delivering alcohol, must be maintained. We must support public health and safety to keep alcohol out of youth’s hands by opposing the USPS Shipping Equity Act (H.R. 3721).
Prevent USPS Alcohol Deliveries
The potential for increased alcohol-related harms associated with allowing the U.S. Postal Service to deliver alcohol to homes and communities would be enabled under the USPS Shipping Equity Act (H.R. 3721). The integrity of U.S. Legal Code 18 § 1716, which prevents USPS from carrying and delivering alcohol, must be maintained.
Expanding home delivery of alcohol disrupts the three-tier system (retailer, distributor/wholesaler, supplier/producer) which the U.S. relies upon to deliver alcohol safely, collect taxes, and enforce laws related to alcohol safety, including preventing minors from accessing alcohol.
Since the end of federal Prohibition, the 21st Amendment has granted the power to the states to set their laws for alcohol sales and distribution. Authorizing USPS to transport and deliver alcohol would introduce a federal delivery mechanism that could undermine the important state safeguards afforded by the three-tier system.
States are already struggling to maintain enforcement procedures for alcohol delivery requirements, such as ID checking and tracking the product through the supply chain to ensure the product is coming from a licensed shipper (e.g., retailer, producer). Should USPS be involved in illegal alcohol deliveries, that could create liability for the federal agency. Preparing postal employees for an uneven alcohol regulatory environment spanning 50 states and the District of Columbia would be an incredible financial burden.
A 2012 study found that when alcohol was purchased online by minors the required age verification at delivery was inconsistently conducted by common carriers (e.g., UPS and FedEx) and, when attempted, failed nearly half of the time! Allowing USPS to deliver alcohol for the sake of parity may only lead to increased underage drinking and potentially tragic consequences in our communities.
States have also lost tax revenues as a result of unlicensed producers/shippers directly shipping into a state without paying the required taxes. Home delivery by the USPS may exacerbate this issue.
Research suggests that alcohol-related deaths have been increasing since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with overall consumption. Deaths involving alcohol increased 25% in 2020 relative to 2019, and the largest increase in fatalities was seen in those aged 25-45. It is not in the best interest of the population’s health to increase home delivery using a federal agency. The CDC estimates that alcohol leads to approximately 140,000 deaths each year in the U.S., more than 380 deaths per day.
The integrity of the U.S. Legal Code 18 § 1716, which prevents USPS from carrying and delivering alcohol, must be maintained. We must support public health and safety to keep alcohol out of youth’s hands by opposing the USPS Shipping Equity Act (H.R. 3721).