As of June 1, alcohol will be sold in grocery stores throughout Washington. On November 8, residents voted in favor of Initiative 1183: the privatization of alcohol sales. The state of Washington will no longer control the distribution and sale of hard liquor.
Issaquah based Costco threw in just over 22 million dollars to propose and support I-1183, which was shot-down by voters in 2010 largely because gas stations and mini-marts would have been able to sell liquor.
This year, the bill was amended by Costco to exclude stores under 10,000 square feet from selling hard liquor.
The passing of the bill raises questions from both sides of the fence, especially where money and public safety are concerned. Even with the stringent laws prohibiting minors from purchasing or possessing alcohol, they still manage to obtain it.
The fear that hard liquor will be made available to teens is a valid concern, considering minors illegally purchase beer at grocers now.
The number of stores that sell liquor in Washington is expected to jump from 328 to nearly 1500, significantly increasing opportunities for minors to obtain alcohol.
Some opponents to the bill, such as retail and grocery clerks, will have to deal with the percentage of alcohol consumers that are chronic abusers.
“I don’t want the added burden or the responsibility of turning down a (hard-liquor) sale to an intoxicated homeless person, leave that to the liquor stores,” Marsha Spencer, a night manager for a large retail/grocer, said.
“We’re a family store,” Spencer added.
Others are concerned about Big business and their ability to buy an election. Costco made an attempt to pass a similar law last year and failed, so they rewrote in and kicked in 22 million dollars this year, succeeding.
“I can’t believe they (Costco) simply bought their way through the system, its democracy controlled by capitalism,” Thomas James, an independent grocer, said.
The bill is expected to increase state revenue by 80 million dollars over the next six years; however, over 900 state jobs will be eliminated as state run liquor stores cease to operate.
