By John Kirsch
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

AUSTIN -- Texans are split about whether they should be allowed to buy wine via the Internet or from a catalog, according to a Scripps Howard Texas Poll.

They are almost evenly divided about whether to change state law to allow wineries to ship to Texans, according to the poll.

Poll results were released this week as state lawmakers debate whether to allow Texas wineries to ship their products to customers, who could order online or from a catalog.

In House Bill 892, Texans could order wine via the Internet or by telephone and have it delivered to a package store near their house. Customers would have to show identification when picking up wine to prevent minors from obtaining alcohol.

A similar bill that would have allowed direct shipping to consumers was criticized by ministers, who said it would result in underage drinking.

House Bill 892 is awaiting debate on the Senate floor after clearing the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday.

Rep. David Swinford, R- Dumas, who wrote the bill, said he expects it to be approved.

"Everyone and their dog has signed off on it," he said Wednesday.

Bobby Smith, an Arlington dentist who is chairman of the legislative committee of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, said the bill would help the state's wine industry by putting small winery operators in closer contact with consumers.

"It would be good for the industry and good for rural tourism," said Smith, who operates a winery in Grapevine.

Smith said the bill also calls for the Texas Agriculture Department to market Texas wine, with $250,000 annually provided by the wine industry.

In the poll, 44 percent said Texans should be allowed to buy wine online or from a catalog, 48 percent said they should not, and 8 percent said they do not know.

Forty-one percent of Texans said they drink wine, but only 4 percent said they have bought wine via the Internet or a catalog.

Of wine drinkers, 56 percent said they support having the choice of buying wine via the Internet or from a catalog. Thirty- seven percent said they do not favor that option. Seven percent said they do not know.

State law bars wineries from shipping to consumers in Texas. Forty-one percent of respondents, including 52 percent of wine drinkers, said they support changing the law to allow wineries to ship to Texans via catalog or Internet sales.

Forty-four percent of Texans oppose changing the law, 9 percent are neutral, and 6 percent do not know.

Twenty-one percent of Texans said they are likely to buy wine from wineries if state law is changed, compared with 77 percent who said they are unlikely to do so.

Among wine drinkers, 36 percent said they are likely to purchase wine from wineries, and 61 percent said they are unlikely to do so if the law is changed.

The poll was conducted April 10 to May 1 by the Scripps Howard Data Center. It surveyed 1,000 adult Texans by telephone in a systematic random sample of telephone exchanges statewide.

The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

John Kirsch, (817) 685-3805
jkirsch@star-telegram.com