Australian Wine from Alternative Grape Varieties |
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Join this Facebook group to save small Victorian wineries
Small wineries in Victoria under threat from anti-drunkenness pushThe Victorian Government is correct in taking action to reduce drunkenness and violence in and around nightclubs and other places where large numbers of people congregate and consume alcohol. However the decision to sharply increase licence fees for small wineries showing and selling their produce at small community events and farmers markets is very wide of the mark. Unfortunately this action is punishing small wineries, their patrons and community events that have nothing to do with the CBD nightclub scene. Has the government any evidence of drunkenness and violence at farmers markets? Increasing license fees for small wineries and small community events can only exacerbate the problem that the Government says it is trying to address. Jeni Port in This article in the Age Epicure outlines the problem well.
Why does it matter?As Jeni Port points out Victoria has a diverse wine industry with over eight hundred wineries, many of them are small. A quarter don't have cellar doors. Their route to their customers is through exactly the types of events and activities that thisAs consumers we see the inevitable march of large brands and supermarket wines. Cutting the lifeblood of smaller wineries will mean less choice, less diversity. It is a fact of life that big business have more influence than small business and community groups. Large licenced premises have tried to squeeze out smaller ones and they see this as an opportunity to further their stranglehold on the industry. The live music industry is standing up for its right to exist. Can we in the wine industry do the same?
Some action stepsThe government consults big business and big players on many of its decisions. Small players and community groups find it harder to be heard, but as the actions of the Music industry have shown a grass roots campaign can be effective.
STEP 1I have created a Facebook group to rally support for the campaign against this slug at small wineries, their consumers and the community events that they support. If you are a member of Facebook please join this group and encourage your friends, colleagues and customers and customers to do so as well.
STEP 2If you live in Victoria please contact your local Member of Parliament. Better still ring them and express your opinion. They are paid for out of your taxes and you should put your taxes to work. A list of Members of Parliament and their contact numbers is available from the links below. Write, ring, email or fax them with your concerns. Invite them to the next farmers market in your area to see for themselves how foolish it is to make these events pay for the excesses of large city dinking venues.Contact your State MP. Members of the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) Members of the Legislative Council (Upper House) You have FIVE of these who are looking after your interests, some from the Government and some from the Opposition or cross benches. Make them all sing for their supper. I have not written a standard letter because my experience working for politicians is that they respond better to individual, rather than preformated messages or petitions. Tell them how this issue will effect you and your voting intention.
STEP 3If you have a mailing list or social media group please encourage your readers to take action. While wineries are in the firing line consumers also stand to lose if this issue is not adequately addressed. Please point this out to your consumers so they can join in the campaign. Direct them to the Facebook page, or to this page. Some people are not on Facebook.
Feedback on this issueDo you have any further ideas to share? Maybe you know about wineries or events that have already been impacted by this issue. You can post to the wall on Facebook or you can leave a message below. Including your name and affiliation is optional.
Please have your sayDo you have ideas or suggestions about how we can handle this issue? Maybe you'd like to share your experience about impacts already being felt.
Disclaimer. I promote some small wineries in my Vinodiversity business.
The impact of the Government's actions in this issue on my business will be small.
As a Victorian wine consumer this problem will impact my enjoyment of the rich life we live in this
state as well as the viability of many small business people and community events throughout the state.
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