The Michigan Senate recently approved a bill that will increase the penalties for illegally shipping wine or beer into the state. If signed and made into law, House Bill 4557 would make the illegal alcohol punishable by a fine of $500-$5,000 and up to 4 years in jail. The penalties would match already established penalties for illegally shipping spirits into the state.
According to the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association, a comprehensive study conducted by the Hill Group in 2015 found that an estimated $64 million worth of wine is shipped illegally into the state annually, depriving the state of millions of dollars of tax revenue. HB4557 next heads to Governor Snyder for approval and passage into law.
Source: UpNorthLive.com, June 2017