Americana: A Case of Oenophobia

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Wichita has 15 cases of fine wine, and no one can yet touch a drop of it.

Officials in Orleans, France, have maintained a sister-city relationship with Wichita ever since soldiers from the Kansas city helped to liberate Orleans in World War II. This year the Orleanais shipped a collection of art to Wichita, to be exhibited next month. Along with the art went 15 cases of Vouvray Mousseux 1976 to be consumed when an official delegation arrives to open the art show.

Under Kansas law, however, two taxes must be paid on alcohol, a gallonage tax by the wholesaler and an enforcement tax by the consumer. Since the city is neither a wholesaler nor consumer, it cannot pay these taxes, which would total roughly $100. Besides, the law forbids cities to pay taxes on liquor. No wholesaler can accept delivery for the city because the Vouvray is not on the list of wines approved for sale in Kansas.

The wine is officially considered contraband and is now locked up under bond. At week's end, plans were being made to ship it to the officers' club at Wichita's McConnell Air Force Base. Since that institution is not subject to state liquor laws, the wine could legally be consumed there, perhaps at a party on the base runway. The catch is that guests would have to drive there from the art exhibit, which is set up 20 miles away.