State AG, Liquor Control Commission crack down on illegal wine shipments

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, at the request of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), has filed lawsuits in federal court against two California entities that continue to defy state liquor laws by illegally shipping wine and beer directly to consumers.

Despite receiving demands to cease and desist the illicit importation, Go to Gifts Inc. and Vintner’s Collective LLC refuse to comply and continue to threaten the public health, safety, and welfare, Nessel said.

Go to Gifts, d/b/a The BroBasket, is based in Camarillo, California, while Vintner’s Collective is located in Napa, California.

Nessel’s lawsuits, filed in the Eastern District of Michigan, seek an injunction based on the Twenty-First Amendment Enforcement Act, a federal statute that allows state attorneys general to take action to enforce their state’s liquor laws in federal court.

Typically, Michigan law requires beer and wine to be channeled through MLCC-licensed wholesale entities for distribution to retail locations. In limited instances, a manufacturer may ship wine directly to consumers, but only if it is licensed to do so.

Neither entity in the lawsuit is properly licensed in Michigan to allow for direct-to-consumer shipping.

“Our state’s liquor laws were drafted to protect the health, safety and welfare of Michiganders, and my office will use its authority to aggressively enforce those regulations,” Nessel said.

Go to Gifts and Vintner’s Collective have refused to follow the law, she said Despite receiving letters demanding that they cease and desist importing alcohol into Michigan, Nessel said they continued to ship to Michigan customers.

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