Bills to relax liquor laws would hurt family businesses

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Allan Wyatt

Thursday, February 7, 2008

$2.8 millon divided by 1600 equals $1750. $1750 divided by 52 equals $33.65.

These numbers represent the tax revenue that might be generated by having liquor stores open on Sunday. This is a false premise. Sales figures and tax revenue will show a minor uptick for the first year or so on the novelty of being able to buy on Sundays, but will then flatten out to spread the same amount of sales over seven days instead of six.

State Sen. Brandon Shaffer(D) Longmont and Rep. Jack Pommer(D) Boulder have put a proposal to let major chain stores like Safeway and King Soopers sell alcohol.

State Sen. Jennifer Viega(D) Denver has put forth a proposal to let (force) independent liquor stores to be open on Sundays.

Both proposals have been wrapped in the guise of “convenience” for the customers. This they are not. They are nothing more than a cynical way of collecting tax revenue at the expense of the private liquor store owners.

By giving us these proposals they are putting store owners on the horns of a dilemma. Let the big guys have their way and put us out of business, or let the legislature have its’ way and take away their one guaranteed day a week off.

These three are playing both ends against the middle on this one. They get what they want, supposedly more tax revenue by holding store owners hostage. Either store owners stay open on Sundays, or they unleash the big dogs on them.

Being Democrats, they are supposed to be the champions of the little guy against the corporate behemoths. Unless the siren song of taxes gets in the way, then hang to your hats ‘cause it appears that these three will throw you under the bus to get to the money.

All one has to do is look at the mega-corps that have put the monies up for these proposals, Safeway, Kroger, Diageo. Huge money. No matter how the pie is sliced, they get what they want and the left side of the aisle gets what it wants, store owners be damned.

For the sake of convenience, I would like to be able to get in touch with, or go see my representatives or senators at MY convenience. Say, Saturday or Sunday. Maybe until midnight during the week. After all, these are the hours that liquor stores are open. So why shouldn’t I be given the same “convenience"? If you can’t plan ahead far enough to buy beer or liquor for Sunday, why should I be inconvenienced to be a convenience to you?

Please give the unpaid tax-collectors of Colorado a break by letting them have one day off a week without the threat of mega-corps putting them out of business, or forcing them to be open against their will. Please call or e-mail your Reps and Sens to vote against both of these proposals.

Allan Wyatt is a resident of Longmont