Liquor stores plan spirited attack

Owners oppose wine, beer sales by grocers
By MIKE SACCONE
The Daily Sentinel

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

For years, Crossroads Wine and Spirits has enjoyed its proximity to the Rimrock Avenue Wal-Mart.

Monty Haltiner, manager of the store at 2546 Rimrock Ave., said many of his customers shop at the nearby chain store before stopping into his shop for a six-pack of beer or a bottle of wine.

But Haltiner said legislation moving through the state Capitol to allow Wal-Mart and other stores to sell full-strength beer and wine could threaten this relationship and ultimately harm his business.

Senate Bill 149, which is scheduled to go before a Senate committee this afternoon, would allow stores that sell food products to set aside 5 percent of their floor space for alcohol sales.

Grocery stores are limited under law to selling 3.2-percent alcohol drinks or beers.

“Pretty much every liquor store in Colorado opened a business based on current law that says grocery stores can’t (sell full-strength beer and wine),” Haltiner said, “and, in some cases, invested millions of dollars and, in some cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars in a business and a business plan based on that.”

Wayne Fisher, owner of Fisher’s Liquor Barn, 2438 F Road, said the legislation also could endanger the financial well-being of owners whose stores are their retirement investments.

“A lot of these liquor stores are going to be worth nothing when this opens up,” Fisher said.

Diane Roth, a lobbyist for the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association, said Haltiner and Fisher are not alone in voicing their concerns.

Roth said owners of the state’s nearly 1,700 independently owned liquor stores have told her they make up to 70 percent of their profits from beer and wine sales.

She said if Senate Bill 149 causes those businesses to lose even half of their beer and wine sales, most will go out of business.

But one of the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said liquor store owners have overstated their case.

“It might force them to lower their prices or emphasize different things, but I don’t think it drives them out of business,” he said.

Pommer said plenty of other states have weakened or abolished their “blue laws” to help consumers. He said his bill is intended to offer “convenience to consumers” who might want to buy a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer while shopping for dinner.

Susan Bradford, who was shopping Thursday afternoon at the Safeway on Horizon Drive, said the bill would make shopping trips shorter for herself and others.

“A lot of people would find it more convenient,” Bradford said. “A lot of people have wine or beer with their dinner.”

Ernie Walthers, who stopped at the 12th Street Albertsons while passing through Grand Junction, said he loves being able to shop for wine or beer at the grocery store near his home in Battle Mountain, Nev.

Nonetheless, Walthers said he still frequents liquor stores that often have discounted prices on beer and wine.

Pommer said it is unfortunate the liquor store lobby has refused to work out a compromise on the matter to help both consumers and the stores.

“I guess the frustrating thing is they absolutely don’t want to talk about anything,” Pommer said. “Their attitude is the bill has to die, and that’s it.”

E-mail Mike Saccone at msaccone@gjds.com.

By Lisa

Feb 13, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this

I don't believe that liquor stores will take that big of a hit in sales. In Texas, beer and wine is sold in grocery stores. There is also liquor stores all over the place too. I bought 99% of the alcohol that I purchased from liquor stores. There are people out there that just does not want to deal with grocery store lines and go to the liquor store. Also, liquor stores have more of a selection than grocery stores.

By Rick from Junction but now Durango

Feb 13, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this

Everyone:

I moved here 11 years ago from SW Arkansas. Do ya'll know what a "bootlegger" is??? It's someone who sells beer and liquor in a "dry" county. There apparently are no dry counties in Colorado. And, there is no "fake beer, in the State of Arkanss, and New Mexico. All I want to see happen is that "ALL" 3.2 beer is eliminated in Colorado. If ya'll want FAKE BEER to remain have the distributors lower the price of Near Beer by the same ratio as the alcohol content. I don't mind paying $6.00 dollars for a six pack of Real Beer, but I do have a problem paying the same amount of money for FAKE Beer.

One question: At one time in CO did 18 year olds have the right to purchase beer, wine, and hard liqour??? This would explain this ridiculous rule and why 3.2 beer (near beer) is sold in this stste There has never been 3.2 beverages sold in ARK because 18 years olds were never allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages in Arkansas. Texas and many other states allowed 18 year olds to purchase (near) beer that contained 3.2 or less percent alcohol by volume, but 18-20 year olds were not allowed to purchase any beer or liquor products.

Remember everyone: Technology (bar codes) will allow "ALL" store owners to monitor the age of the person who is purchasing beer, liquor, wine, spray paint, tobacco, etc. You get the point.

I should not have to schedule the "Liquor Stores" into my plans because I am shopping in a grocery store or convience store. If beer is in these buisness's I will not have to cross state lines to purchase these products.

Real BEER should be available 7 days a week no matter where you purchase alcohol related productsd.


By drunk

Feb 13, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this

The law that keeps walmart and grocery stores from selling wine and spirits is like a subsidy for local liquor stores. The law subsidises the liquor store by not allowing other legitimate businesses to compete. But is it not in our capatalistic model to provide product at the lowest prices possible? If walmart undercuts the local liquor stores, blame the capitalistic model, cry unfair and close down.

Dem lawmakers skeptical over Benson

A dozen Democratic state legislators said in a letter released Monday that they're "deeply concerned" about the nomination of Republican Party activist Bruce Benson to be president of the University of Colorado.

The lawmakers -- including Boulder-area Reps. Alice Madden, Claire Levy, Jack Pommer and Paul Weissmann as well as Sens. Brandon Schaffer and Ron Tupa -- said they're not worried about Benson being a Republican.

"The legislature has worked well with past presidents of CU regardless of their political affiliation and we will continue to do so in the future. Our concern is about the particular circumstances that surround Mr. Benson," the lawmakers wrote. "Mr. Benson has never been an educator, has not run any college or university, and does not hold an advanced degree. Even the strong academic credentials of CU's chancellors cannot make up for that."

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