21st Century Postal Service Act: Senators Propose Beer, Wine Delivery To Generate Revenue

The eagle is struggling to fly.

Growing financial grief has placed the U.S. Postal Service in a difficult bind. As it plans to close hundreds of mail processing facilities and lay off thousands of workers, four senators have formulated a plan to revive the struggling agency.

On Sunday evening, Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tom Carper (D-Del.), and Scott Brown (R-Mass.) wrote an editorial for Politico, stressing how the absence of traditional mail would be a major detriment to the economy.

Among the possible revenue solutions they have on the table: the ability to let the Postal Service ship beer and wine. The senators included this idea in their 21st Century Postal Service Act, which was proposed back in November.

Alcohol and the Postal Service have been separate for centuries. A Billings Gazette editorial notes that the delivery policy banning booze dates back to a Prohibition-era restriction. The Politico editorial pointed out that competitors like UPS and FedEx already have shipping options for beer and wine, sparking a competitive reason for the Postal Service to change its stance.

Comments

[Karl Wilder]

01:27 PM on 12/16/2011

It is our lame brained politicians who are trying to destroy the postal service. They are probably tired of all the letters they get reminding them that they are ONLY representing big business and not us.

[averagezoe]

07:37 PM on 12/15/2011

What an excellent idea! I would be a very loyal customer of both beer and wine shipments.

[blurredmolly]

06:08 PM on 12/15/2011

want to save the postal service? repeal the requirement that they fund their pension and healthcare 75 years into the future.

[Nukualofa]

09:42 AM on 12/15/2011

Pot by mail.

[loco48]

07:47 AM on 12/15/2011

The tepublicans do not want to solve the problem. It is a punching bag so they can propagate the myth that gov. is bad, FEDX and UPS is good.

[loco48]

07:44 AM on 12/15/2011

The solution is simple. Raise the first class rate by 20 cents. Try and send a letter by UPS or FedX for 64 cents! Make the USPS rates somewhat competitive with the private carriers. Why punish mail carriers when the rates in todays world are ridiculus.

[gypsysailor]

10:33 PM on 12/14/2011

The key to fixing the Post Office is to get those republican representatives and senators to receind the rediculous restrictions on how the Post Office pays for it's retires. Republican Congress people are the height of buffoonery in our system.

[stjoshy]

08:04 PM on 12/14/2011

cookie delivery sound like more fiscally sound option to me. ...OMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM!!!!

[Thea Hawkins]

03:21 PM on 12/14/2011

It's about time! This would benefit military living overseas.

[steve12]

04:55 AM on 12/15/2011

Just what our soldiers need in the field - booze. I can't think of a worse rationale for changing USPS shipping policies.

[loco48]

07:41 AM on 12/15/2011

You can buy booze on any military base PX.

[Elizabeth Hatt]

09:40 AM on 12/14/2011

Why are we saving the post office? It will never go away entirely, but let it cut back. I don't want to see people lose their jobs as much as the next person, but by saving it at this point just means it will "cut back" at a later point in time and THOSE people will lose jobs.

Times are changing. We have to roll with it. Sure post office are historic and traditional... but change is what creates traditions.

As my dad said, in regards to the GM bailout: "Why arent we listening to the market? You aren't going to go bail out an ice cream shop in Alaska are you? 'Oh no!!! No one is buying ice cream -- but we dont want to see them lose their jobs so we better help them survive.' NO!! That's stupid!"

[heboprotagonist]

06:29 PM on 12/14/2011

If you eliminate the Federal Post Office, then UPS, FedEx, etc. will have no competitor that consistently keeps its prices low. Sure, you'll have a "free" market, but no one will be able to afford to send a letter or postcard anymore.

People over profits, always.

[Parkite]

04:42 PM on 12/15/2011

Bet you didn't know the Postal Service delivers about 20% of UPS packages to rural deliveries, did you? I guess you either don't send Christmas cards or get Christmas cards, birthday cards, etc. Obviously, never a handwritten thank you note. Wedding invitations? Snail mail still has some important functions.

[marijam]

09:26 AM on 12/14/2011

The elderly who live in rural areas need those post offices. The post office is historical, an American tradition and it should be fully funded by our federal government. The mandate of the post office should be expanded to bring it into the 21st century.

[peteschwarze]

08:10 AM on 12/14/2011

If the post office wants to be 21st century maybe they should operate, in part, as an internet service provider. The usps was founded by the founding fathers to maintain a safe and secure nationwide communication effort. Times have changed due technology. Now they should change too. GO ELECTRONIC!

[marijam]

09:27 AM on 12/14/2011

People who are plugged in forget that there are thousands, if not millions, who are not plugged in and who never plan on getting plugged in.

[peteschwarze]

09:16 PM on 12/14/2011

And why is that? Most of the time it's the cost. The usps could provide a free of charge email address....advertising is what brings in the revenue. Sooner or later...almost everyone will be plugged in except for the amish.

[Daniel Wilcox]

01:33 AM on 12/14/2011

Disgusting. If the Postal Service can't stand on it's own then they need to be allowed to fail. Tax payers are tired of hearing of these big corporations who get bailed out at our expense.

[AngusC]

04:07 AM on 12/14/2011

You clearly don't have a real job or a business if you want the post office to fail. They are pretty important to people in the real world.

[marijam]

09:28 AM on 12/14/2011

Let's just do away with all government while we're at it, right?

[Lmurwood]

01:11 AM on 12/14/2011

I totally for hot you can't ship booze via the postal service heck yes they should allow it. I love the postal service that are always so helpful but that might be because I'm a military spouce.

[nutzodriven]

07:22 PM on 12/13/2011

Then they going to have to force the states to change the laws. Alot have bans against mail shipments to protect the big money Distributors, and taxes.