[bgentry]

What you describe is basically how the alcohol industry has functioned in this country since the end of prohibition. All sales are forced to go through distributors who then sell to stores who then sell to consumers. There is no purpose for this other than another level of bureaucracy, waste, and limiting of competition.

[refurb]

I wouldn't say it severe no purpose other than bureaucracy, waste and limiting competition.

My understanding was that the 3 tiered system came about as a method to closely monitor and control alcohol sales. For example, medicinal brandy was still legal during prohibition and much of it was diverted for recreational use. Tightly controlling manufacturers, distributors and retailers helped keep that sort of stuff under control (kinda of... not really).

I don't disagree that it serves a very limited purpose now.

[caf]

You can't buy wine at the cellar door?

[woodchuck64]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-tier_%28alcohol_distribut... "States have various exceptions to this rule, the most prevalent one being the case of a brewpub, which is simultaneously a producer and retailer, and has no requirement to sell to a distributor. Some states allow an entity to have a part in two of the tiers, letting small breweries act as their own distributor, for example. Many states permit wineries to sell bottles of wine on-site to customers."