5 Businesses Face Fines Over $50K as This State Makes ‘Significant Step’ to Stop Illegal Liquor Shipping

WKRN News reported on Tuesday that five eCommerce businesses are facing fines totaling $58,320 over charges of illegal liquor shipping to the state of Tennessee. The stores did not have proper licenses to ship liquor to consumers within the state.

"These penalties mark a significant step in our efforts to halt illegal online alcohol distribution and ensure compliance with legal and safety standards," Russell F. Thomas, director of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, said, according to the outlet. "Businesses selling alcohol without a license in Tennessee should expect severe penalties. We are committed to ensuring public safety and upholding state laws."

The fines were issued with the federal court's approval and the incident was considered the first in Tennessee's history where the Twenty-First Amendment Enforcement Act was used. This makes Tennessee and Ohio the two states that used the Twenty-First Amendment Enforcement Act where attorneys can press charges against shops illegally selling liquor within the state. The stores that faced the fines were My Bev Store, Prime Time, Wooden Cork, The Liquor Bros and Bottle Buzz.

"This injunction is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to combat illegal alcohol distribution by enforcing Tennessee licensure laws," Thomas explained to WKRN. "These are the same laws that prevent minors from obtaining alcohol, ensure that taxes are paid and that keep counterfeit alcohol products off the market. I thank General Skrmetti and his team for their excellent work."

These companies allegedly shipped liquor to addresses within the state of Tennessee without the proper licensing from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Officials claimed they warned the stores they were in violation of the law, yet they continued shipping alcohol to residents within the state. In March , the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America claimed that American lawmakers are pushing back against direct-to-consumer alcohol shippers that violate liquor regulations within states. The reasons for pushing back against these so-called bad actors stem from increased incidents of underage drinking, counterfeit liquor and more. The organization implemented a survey that reflected most Americans held similar beliefs. The data showed that 60% of adults in America were worried about direct-to-consumer shipping underaged individuals to liquor.

"The data is clear," WSWA President Francis Creighton expressed regarding the survey. "When we talk about expanding interstate alcohol shipping, we're talking about dismantling the three-tier system to benefit 10% or fewer American adults while more than doubling ID check compliance failure rates. Expanding shipping threatens the ability of states to protect health and safety."

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