A postal postscript on shipping wine

In a recent column, I explained that Washington recently changed from a reciprocity state (limited shipping allowed from other reciprocity states) to a permit state. This allows any licensed winery in the country to ship wine to Washington consumers as long as they obtain a wine-shipper permit, file monthly sales reports and collect Washington state taxes.

Taylor S. Koch, a customer service analyst with the U.S. Postal Service, reminds me that wine and all other alcoholic beverages may not be mailed through the U.S. Postal Service. The Postal Service will go so far as to refuse parcels with nonalcohol contents if the shipping box is an old wine box or booze box of any kind. (The visible alcoholic-beverage advertising must be covered or obscured before mailing.) So, readers, if you are shipping wine, plan on using UPS, FedEx or one of the other private carriers.

Paul Gregutt answers questions weekly in the Wine section. He can be reached by e-mail at wine@seattletimes.com.