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May 16, 2005 10:15 AM, EDT

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he Supreme Court ruled Monday that states may not pass laws blocking out-of-state wineries from shipping to customers, the Associated Press reported.

The 5-4 decision struck down laws in New York and Michigan making it a crime to buy wine directly from vineyards in another state. In all, 24 states had laws barring interstate shipments, AP said.

The court ruled the bans were discriminatory and anti-competitive, AP reported.

The dispute had pitted states and a network of alcohol wholesalers against wineries that sought to sell over the Internet and by phone. Package-delivery companies are often used to ship wines purchased through phone or Internet orders.

States, which collect millions of dollars from alcohol taxes, had argued their systems helped prevent fraud and underage drinking, AP said.