Liquor-store bill set for fight

By Jessica Fender
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 02/08/2008 09:11:26 AM MST

Colorado shoppers could have more options to buy full-strength beer and wine following the introduction Thursday of a bill that would overhaul the state's liquor industry by extending retailers' ability to sell alcohol.

Impassioned debate over the proposal in recent weeks has led to a series of deals between brewers and vintners as well as convenience stores, which also would be able to sell liquor if the proposal passes. An original version extended sales only to large grocery stores.

None of the new provisions makes the bill palatable to liquor stores, which argue the measure will put them out of business.

House sponsor Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said that while the bill is finding more friends at the Capitol, passage remains a longshot. He added that the recent tweaks make it more fair and defensible.

"I wouldn't bet the farm" on it passing, Pommer said. "But I'd bet a bottle of cheap scotch."

The new bill, likely to be heard next week in the Senate Judiciary Committee, would:

• Allow liquor-store owners to operate up to three shops, up from the current one-store limit.

• Allow liquor stores to set aside 5 percent of their floor space for selling nonperishable food items.

• Introduce a new class of liquor license that would allow retailers to sell wine and full-strength beer.

• Limit beer and wine displays in supermarkets and convenience stores to 5 percent of floor space.

• Require 20 percent of those displays to contain craft beers and another 20 percent to contain boutique wines.

Senate sponsor Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, said that Colorado's craft breweries — including New Belgium Brewery and smaller operations — would be guaranteed space in supermarkets and convenience stores.

Current laws dating back to Prohibition say only independently owned liquor stores can sell wine, spirits and beer that have higher than 3.2 percent alcohol by weight.

Those are the rules under which many of the mom-and-pop liquor shops started their businesses, signing long-term leases and taking out hefty bank loans, said liquor-store lobbyist Scott Chase.

"This bill would have a devastating impact on those family-owned businesses," said Chase, who estimated that 70 percent of liquor-store revenues comes from wine and full-strength beer. "That's the last thing the Colorado economy needs right now."

Shaffer said he expects a fight on Senate Bill 149. He's already heard that some lobbyists are considering blasting supporters with robo-calls bashing the bill.

"The real challenge I see is to be able to have just an intellectual conversation on the policy as opposed to an emotional conversation driven by lobbyists down at the Capitol," Shaffer said.

Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com