May 19, 2021 3:00 a.m.

Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley has joined a group of colleagues in introducing the USPS Shipping Equity Act – a bipartisan bill to end the prohibition-era-ban that prevents the U.S. Postal Service from shipping alcoholic beverage to customers.

Merkley said currently private shipping can ship alcohol, but the USPS cannot.

Merkley said all American businesses deserve the same access to the U.S. Postal Service when it comes to delivering products to their consumers. Merkley said it would ensure that wineries, breweries, and distillers in Oregon and throughout American have another option to consider when selling their world-class products.

The release said the legislation would allow the 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. The bill will give the USPS two years to develop regulations and implement the law.

The legislation is endorsed by the Oregon Winegrowers Association, Oregon Distillers Guild, and the Oregon Brewers Guild along with a number of letter carrier organizations.