The bill passed despite objections from California lawmakers that it favored liquor wholesalers over small wineries and breweries.

Seagram dropped many of the small distributors in favor of large liquor wholesalers.

Twenty years ago, the wine business was controlled by big liquor wholesalers who, for the most part, treated wine as an afterthought.

Bar owners and liquor wholesalers admit the 0.08 bill would would hurt business, but they say money is not the sole basis for their opposition.

In the last 40 years, the number of liquor wholesalers has shrunk by a staggering 97 percent.

Ovitz was born to a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a liquor wholesaler.

"I had a problem, but my doctor couldn't see me in his office until next week," John O'Connor, a liquor wholesaler, said.

In the 1880s, two local lawyers are identified as owners, and later on Charles Robinson, a liquor wholesaler.

Casden was raised in a Jewish family, the son of a liquor wholesaler.

Opponents call that a smoke screen for naked self-interest by liquor wholesalers.