LIQUOR: Down the Hatch

One day last year one of New York's liquor inspectors caught Manhattan Retailer Edward Sidney Levine with his Schenley Reserve down. Levine had slashed the price from $4.05 to $3.75 a fifth. That was less than he was permitted to sell it for under New York's "fair trade" law which, like price-fixing laws in 44 other states, permits manufacturers to set minimum retail prices.

New York's State Liquor Authority took away Levine's license for ten days. Levine cut prices again and the board again suspended him. After a third offense last March he lost his license.

Retailer Levine went to court....

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