CHAPTER 6 —TRANSPORTATION IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE
§121. State statutes as operative on termination of transportation; original packages
All fermented, distilled, or other intoxicating liquors or liquids transported into any State or Territory or remaining therein for use, consumption, sale, or storage therein, shall upon arrival in such State or Territory be subject to the operation and effect of the laws of such State or Territory enacted in the exercise of its police powers, to the same extent and in the same manner as though such liquids or liquors had been produced in such State or Territory, and shall not be exempt therefrom by reason of being introduced therein in original packages or otherwise.
(Aug. 8, 1890, ch. 728,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
Act Aug. 8, 1890, is popularly known as the "Wilson Act" or the "Original Packages Act".
§122. Shipments into States for possession or sale in violation of State law
The shipment or transportation, in any manner or by any means whatsoever, of any spirituous, vinous, malted, fermented, or other intoxicating liquor of any kind, from one State, Territory, or District of the United States, or place noncontiguous to but subject to the jurisdiction thereof, into any other State, Territory, or District of the United States, or place noncontiguous to but subject to the jurisdiction thereof, or from any foreign country into any State, Territory, or District of the United States, or place noncontiguous to but subject to the jurisdiction thereof, which said spirituous, vinous, malted, fermented, or other intoxicating liquor is intended, by any person interested therein, to be received, possessed, sold, or in any manner used, either in the original package or otherwise, in violation of any law of such State, Territory, or District of the United States, or place noncontiguous to but subject to the jurisdiction thereof, is prohibited.
(Aug. 27, 1935, ch. 740, §202(b),
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in the act of Mar. 1, 1913, ch. 90, §1,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
Act Mar. 1, 1913, is popularly known as the "Webb-Kenyon Act".
§122a. Injunctive relief in Federal district court
(a) Definitions
In this section—
(1) the term "attorney general" means the attorney general or other chief law enforcement officer of a State or the designee thereof;
(2) the term "intoxicating liquor" means any spirituous, vinous, malted, fermented, or other intoxicating liquor of any kind;
(3) the term "person" means any individual and any partnership, corporation, company, firm, society, association, joint stock company, trust, or other entity capable of holding a legal or beneficial interest in property, but does not include a State or agency thereof; and
(4) the term "State" means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States.
(b) Action by State attorney general
If the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that a person is engaged in, or has engaged in, any act that would constitute a violation of a State law regulating the importation or transportation of any intoxicating liquor, the attorney general may bring a civil action in accordance with this section for injunctive relief (including a preliminary or permanent injunction) against the person, as the attorney general determines to be necessary to—
(1) restrain the person from engaging, or continuing to engage, in the violation; and
(2) enforce compliance with the State law.
(c) Federal jurisdiction
(1) In general
The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over any action brought under this section by an attorney general against any person, except one licensed or otherwise authorized to produce, sell, or store intoxicating liquor in such State.
(2) Venue
An action under this section may be brought only in accordance with
(3) Form of relief
An action under this section is limited to actions seeking injunctive relief (a preliminary and/or permanent injunction).
(4) No right to jury trial
An action under this section shall be tried before the court.
(d) Requirements for injunctions and orders
(1) In general
In any action brought under this section, upon a proper showing by the attorney general of the State, the court may issue a preliminary or permanent injunction to restrain a violation of this section. A proper showing under this paragraph shall require that a State prove by a preponderance of the evidence that a violation of State law as described in subsection (b) has taken place or is taking place.
(2) Additional showing for preliminary injunction
No preliminary injunction may be granted except upon—
(A) evidence demonstrating the probability of irreparable injury if injunctive relief is not granted; and
(B) evidence supporting the probability of success on the merits.
(3) Notice
No preliminary or permanent injunction may be issued under paragraph (1) without notice to the adverse party and an opportunity for a hearing.
(4) Form and scope of order
Any preliminary or permanent injunction entered in an action brought under this section shall—
(A) set forth the reasons for the issuance of the order;
(B) be specific in terms;
(C) describe in reasonable detail, and not by reference to the complaint or other document, the act or acts sought to be restrained; and
(D) be binding upon—
(i) the parties to the action and the officers, agents, employees, and attorneys of those parties; and
(ii) persons in active concert or participation with the parties to the action who receive actual notice of the order by personal service or otherwise.
(5) Admissibility of evidence
In a hearing on an application for a permanent injunction, any evidence previously received on an application for a preliminary injunction in connection with the same civil action and that would otherwise be admissible, may be made a part of the record of the hearing on the permanent injunction.
(e) Rules of construction
This section shall be construed only to extend the jurisdiction of Federal courts in connection with State law that is a valid exercise of power vested in the States—
(1) under the twenty-first article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States as such article of amendment is interpreted by the Supreme Court of the United States including interpretations in conjunction with other provisions of the Constitution of the United States; and
(2) under
(f) Additional remedies
(1) In general
A remedy under this section is in addition to any other remedies provided by law.
(2) State court proceedings
Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit an authorized State official from proceeding in State court on the basis of an alleged violation of any State law.
(Mar. 1, 1913, ch. 90, §2, as added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Impact Study
§122b. General provisions
(a) Effect on Internet Tax Freedom Act
Nothing in this section may be construed to modify or supersede the operation of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (
(b) Inapplicability to service providers
Nothing in this section may be construed to—
(1) authorize any injunction against an interactive computer service (as defined in
(2) authorize any injunction against an electronic communication service (as defined in
(3) authorize an injunction prohibiting the advertising or marketing of any intoxicating liquor by any person in any case in which such advertising or marketing is lawful in the jurisdiction from which the importation, transportation or other conduct to which this Act applies originates.
(Mar. 1, 1913, ch. 90, § 3, as added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Internet Tax Freedom Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is title XI of
This Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is act Mar. 1, 1913, ch. 90,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 90 days after Oct. 28, 2000, see section 2004(b) of
1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a closing parenthesis.
§123. Repealed. June 25, 1936, ch. 815, §9, 49 Stat. 1930
Section, acts Mar. 3, 1917, ch. 162, §5,
§124. Direct shipment of wine
(a) Conditions for transporting certain wine
During any period in which the Federal Aviation Administration has in effect restrictions on airline passengers to ensure safety, the direct shipment of wine shall be permitted from States where wine is purchased from a winery, to another State or the District of Columbia, if—
(1) the wine was purchased while the purchaser was physically present at the winery;
(2) the purchaser of the wine provided the winery verification of legal age to purchase alcohol;
(3) the shipping container in which the wine is shipped is marked to require an adult's signature upon delivery;
(4) the wine is for personal use only and not for resale; and
(5) the purchaser could have carried the wine lawfully into the State or the District of Columbia to which the wine is shipped.
(b) Violations
If any person fails to meet any of the conditions under subsection (a), the attorney general of any State may bring a civil action under the same terms as those set out in
(c) Report
Not later than 2 years after November 2, 2002, and at 2-year intervals thereafter, the Attorney General of the United States, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section.
(