Shipping alcohol could bring in “tens of millions of dollars” for USPS

Congresswoman Jackie Speier and 12 co-sponsors have reintroduced legislation to allow the United States Postal Service (USPS) to ship alcoholic beverages to consumers.

The USPS Shipping Equity Act would end the Prohibition-era ban that prevents USPS from shipping alcoholic beverages to consumers.

“In 2016, California was America’s top destination for the direct shipment of wine, yet consumers and manufacturers are prohibited from using the U.S. Postal Service to ship or deliver these everyday products. In most states, private carriers such as FedEx and UPS are already delivering alcoholic beverages. It makes no sense to create a competitive disadvantage for the USPS by barring them from these kinds of shipments, especially given the Postal Service’s dire financial condition,” Rep. Speier said. “Congress needs to lift this ban for the benefit of beverage manufacturers, consumers, and our struggling postal service.”

The bipartisan USPS Shipping Equity Act would allow USPS to ship alcoholic beverages directly from licensed producers and retailers to consumers over the age of 21, in accordance with state and local shipping regulations.

Part of the thinking behind the bill is it would give the Postal Service a new source of revenue to help bolster its deteriorating finances.

Speier noted in a press release on the bill that the market for shipping alcohol grew to $3 billion last year and she says it “continues to soar.” She says it would bring in “tens of millions of dollars” of new revenue for USPS.