eBay Begins Removing Alcohol Listings After '20/20' Report on Teen Buyer

Discussion in 'Beer News' started by Jason, Sep 25, 2012.

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  1. Jason

    Jason Founder (0) Aug 23, 1996 Massachusetts

    I wonder why this day took so long to come ... eBay should be fined for all sales since they started, they knew what was going on and turned a blind eye to it. The worst of it is selling to underage buyers but nothing about sending beer across state lines without a license, that is a bigger can of worms I guess ... underage buyer is the low hanging fruit.

    http://abcnews.go.com/Business/kids-buy-alcohol-ebay/story?id=17280467#.UGEGSELelS_
     
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  2. InebriatedJoker

    InebriatedJoker Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2010 Ohio

    Ebay is just the tip of the iceberg , There are so many other online sites out there to buy it from ..
    Won't be long till some sort of legislation gets passed to restrict any and all online sales ..
     
  3. RyanMM

    RyanMM Crusader (403) Mar 12, 2009 Michigan

    Utterly ridiculous, sensationalist nonsense. There were easier ways to get liquor as a teen than trying to order it through eBay.
     
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  4. mwrecording

    mwrecording Crusader (481) Nov 14, 2009 Maryland

    I saw this article popping around literaly 10 minutes after I bought some BCBS, very odd. There are still listings up for many different beers as well.
     
  5. yamar68

    yamar68 Initiate (0) Apr 1, 2011 Minnesota

    It's about time they exposed all of those 13 year old kids buying cases of Grey Goose on the internet.
     
  6. LambicKing

    LambicKing Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Germany

    While selling to underage buyers needed to be squashed, do we really want the natural progression to be pursued, i.e. sending beer across state lines sans licenses? In other words, if the powers that be chase that rabbit down the hole, we'll undoubtedly see the end of beer trading. Does anybody here wish for that? I, for one, don't. Maybe I'm incorrectly reading between Jason's lines.
     
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  7. Jason

    Jason Founder (0) Aug 23, 1996 Massachusetts

    Trading is a huge gray area, not part of this conversation ... selling beer to someone in another state without a license means they are by-passing taxes and proper distribution channels. Not saying I am for or against the laws that are in place ... but they are the current laws so no one should be above them when selling online.
     
  8. davey101

    davey101 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2009 Connecticut

    Aye. One of my friends in middle school used to order philly blunts and swisher sweets online...biggest issue was intercepting the package from the parents :rolling_eyes:
     
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  9. Shagtastic

    Shagtastic Initiate (0) Jul 30, 2011 Indiana

    God forbid you enjoy your locals
     
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  10. RochesterAaron

    RochesterAaron Initiate (0) May 24, 2007 New York

    Damn kids are hoarding all the Pappy Van Winkle 23.
     
  11. LambicKing

    LambicKing Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Germany

    Both horses are dead and bloated at this point, but what's wrong with having the option to trade for something that will never see distro in your area?
     
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  12. InebriatedJoker

    InebriatedJoker Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2010 Ohio


    I had talked with a fellow BA about this almost a year ago but I said it would be Chris Hansen with Dateline doing the E-Bay buying with an underage person ...It doesn't surprise me at all ..
    If someone wants something bad enough they can find it online ...
     
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  13. GrumpyOldTroll

    GrumpyOldTroll Initiate (0) May 5, 2012 New Jersey

    I'm not an expert, but I don't think there is a distinction in the law between payment in kind and payment with currency.
     
  14. Beerandraiderfan

    Beerandraiderfan Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2009 Nevada

    In pretty much every state in the union, I imagine ABC could easily be guilty of (as either a principal or accomplice):

    Delinquency of a minor
    Conspiracy to commit delinquency of a minor
    Fraud
    Conspiracy to commit fraud
    Conspiracy - minor in possession of alcohol
    Minor in possession of alcohol
    Credit Card Fraud
    Conspiracy to commit credit card fraud

    Heck in a state like Nevada, where all it takes to be convicted of felony child abuse is to put a child in a situation where "they may suffer physical or emotional harm" . . . (I've always feared an overprotective jury and DA making a name for himself prosecuting/convicting some guy who chose a beer festival over going to his kid's soccer game, "oh the horror, little Jimmy suffered emotionally when his father chose beer over his son!)

    And we're not even talking about all the mail fraud, crossing state lines type of stuff, identity theft federal stuff.

    Its always interesting to me how breaking the law, like I allege ABC did, is ignored (or even applauded) when its for the children, and yet at the same time, the children are then used to rationalize passing more laws (that will be selectively enforced) and the downward spiral repeats itself. . .

    ABC, a formerly objective news organization, breaking the law for a sensationalized story, is of greater concern than the supposed underlying substantive story.

    All crimes should be required to have a victim. I'll get off my soapbox now, these Stone IPAs don't drink themselves.
     
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  15. Jason

    Jason Founder (0) Aug 23, 1996 Massachusetts

    True but using paypal or credit cards means there is a "paper trail". A "swap" or trade between "friends" is going to be really hard prosecute assuming both parties are of age. :rolling_eyes:
     
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  16. Pahn

    Pahn Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2009 New York

    this seems like it could yield a very good trouble brewing comic. p.s. i forgot the username of the guy who makes these.
     
  17. jhb138

    jhb138 Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2010 Massachusetts

    I don't see how there's any "grey area" in beer-trading, unless you're tralking about in-person trades. Shipping alcohol without an appropriate license is expressly forbidden by the USPS, UPS and FedEx, as well as state and Federal laws.
     
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  18. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader


    I don't think so. All OL stores I deal with have to be a state that is legal to ship to, and REQUIRE someone 21 to sign for the box. This disqualifies under age drinkers where 6 buck 12 packs of Genny Cream Ale rule.
     
  19. psykosis

    psykosis Initiate (0) May 21, 2009 Indiana

    So with the death of ebay sales, what's next for personal beer sellers? Does this kill the market of second-hand sales, or are bottles going to start popping up elsewhere? It's not like I think anyone is going to be cruising Craigslist for a bottle of Black Tuesday. The people flipping beers must surely be looking for other avenues now, but I cannot fathom what they might be...
     
  20. Jason

    Jason Founder (0) Aug 23, 1996 Massachusetts

    Gray area meaning there is no real "paper trail" of money for product. Shipping is or could be the killer though without the staffing to check every box sent it would be near impossible to check.
     
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