I-1183 Liquor Initiative

[pianoman9701]

I didn't think they could do that either. I suppose you could call the liquor commission.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I saw the liquor store in Chewelah had a big sign to vote "no" for 1183 in their window...how does that work with a state leased building?  I know state vehicles can't have political stickers on them...?

The property owner probably put it up.  I work for the state in Spokane and we had political signs in our parking lot and on the buildings because the property owner puts then up.  We have no say what he puts on the building we lease.  Makes sense he or she probably doesn't want to lose the rent the state is paying them.

[magnanimous_j]

Costco is funding the Pro side as far as I know. But if you look at who is fighting a Private Business it might make a few people open their eyes. (Maybe)

http://protectourcommunities.com/1083-coalition

Interesting.  With those groups against it, I'm sure that YES is going to be the correct vote.

Hood River Distillers?   Why is a business in Oregon funding the Anti side???

The government stores, for all their ills, actually care a very wide range of brands. Smaller distillers are worried that the big box stores will concentrate on the Smirnoffs and the Jack Daniel's and other large brands and not carry smaller brands. Not to mention Costco markets its own line of high quality liquors.

I don't think it will be a big problem in reality though, there is a lot of consumer demand for craft distillers.

[JimmyHoffa]

I think the possibility of sale to minors is very overblown by the opponents of the bill. When I was underage, we never bought beer from mini-marts, we always had to find someone of age to get it for us.

And the mini-marts are already selling beer, wine, and fufu drinks.  If all these folks are so concerned that mini-marts are selling alcohol to teens maybe they should try to have the state take control of beer and wine too.   Teens will get liquor if they want it, and I know of none that ever went to buy it from a store.  Some druggies I knew back in college days used to always be opposed to legalizing drugs if it had an age limit....they said it was always easier to score drugs than alcohol or cigarettes.

[StacyDave97]

My two personal reasons to vote no are:  1.  Regular stores sell to minors 4X as much as liquor stores do.  I don't believe for 1 minute that because stores will now be allowed to sell "hard liquor", that their clerks will do any better when carding people. 
And 2.  Doesn't anyone wonder why all this money is being thrown into the pot by the biggie stores for a YES vote??  I'm pretty sure the big box stores don't really care about us - the consumer, other than to get our dollars.  The way the initiative reads, there has to be a certain amount of money made by May 2013, I believe that was the date, or the stores will have to come up with the money.  So if the money is not made....who gets to pay for that?  We do in higher prices.
I don't mind going to the liquor store and would prefer they just keep it there.  My 

[Special T]

The Big guys MIGHT be out to screw us.... The state screws us NOW every chance they get. I am for shaking up the status quo.  I think the home brewing/distilling movement will continue to grow with state run nonsence. I would rather work a deal with a buddy for some home brew than give the queen some more of my $$$ !

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Let's do both, state run and private, then everyone is happy!!

[Wenatcheejay]

Let's do both, state run and private, then everyone is happy!!

Great Idea, but as is the State doesn't allow it. They would perfer it to stay that way.
I like the commercials that say Costco wants to line their pockets with untold millions if 1183 passes. So, is that what the State does now???


At least Costco pays taxes....

[bigtex]

I saw the liquor store in Chewelah had a big sign to vote "no" for 1183 in their window...how does that work with a state leased building?  I know state vehicles can't have political stickers on them...?

There are two types of liquor stores in WA. State stores which are leased by the state and ran by state employees. Contract stores are ran much like a private business in that the employees are not government employees, the store manager is the one running the store and pays the lease payments, the store essentially contracts with the state to sell liquor. Most contract stores are in smaller towns, considering how small Chewelah is I would assume it is a contract store and thus not leased by the state.

[MikeWalking]

I saw the liquor store in Chewelah had a big sign to vote "no" for 1183 in their window...how does that work with a state leased building?  I know state vehicles can't have political stickers on them...?

There are two types of liquor stores in WA. State stores which are leased by the state and ran by state employees. Contract stores are ran much like a private business in that the employees are not government employees, the store manager is the one running the store and pays the lease payments, the store essentially contracts with the state to sell liquor. Most contract stores are in smaller towns, considering how small Chewelah is I would assume it is a contract store and thus not leased by the state.

Ditto. Contract Stores are privately owned and run.  The owner of one told me the last time this stuff was on the ballot it would hurt them badly.  They wouldn't be able to afford the inventory.  I got the impression the State "fronts" them the inventory.  That wont happen if this passes. 

[ICEMAN]

I saw the liquor store in Chewelah had a big sign to vote "no" for 1183 in their window...how does that work with a state leased building?  I know state vehicles can't have political stickers on them...?

There are two types of liquor stores in WA. State stores which are leased by the state and ran by state employees. Contract stores are ran much like a private business in that the employees are not government employees, the store manager is the one running the store and pays the lease payments, the store essentially contracts with the state to sell liquor. Most contract stores are in smaller towns, considering how small Chewelah is I would assume it is a contract store and thus not leased by the state.

Ditto. Contract Stores are privately owned and run.  The owner of one told me the last time this stuff was on the ballot it would hurt them badly.  They wouldn't be able to afford the inventory.  I got the impression the State "fronts" them the inventory.  That wont happen if this passes. 

What?  The state fronts the store owner the booze to sell?  How does the store owner get all the other merchandise to sell?

IMHO, if there is a profit to be made on any merchandise, a store owner will figure out a way to get it onto their shelf, and to get it there at a competitive price. Capitalism.

Getting the government involved with getting merchandise to the marketplace IS the problem, an extra layer of bureacracy and cost which the consumer must now fund.

I am voting yes on the Initiative.

[dreamunelk]

The owner of the business will lose their business under 1183.  Costco did not put up 20mil because this will benefit the state!  More jobs will be lost in the private sector than gained by this.

[ICEMAN]

The owner of the business will lose their business under 1183.  Costco did not put up 20mil because this will benefit the state!  More jobs will be lost in the private sector than gained by this.

So you feel that the more government intervention there is, the more private sector jobs there are? Just trying to figure this out.....
 
Should the state intervene in tire sales? Fly fishing gear sales? Yarn?
 
How about ammunition sales. Ammunition is a regulated item for sale. Should the state also involve itself in the sale of ammo. Gotta keep the kids safe....(just being a wise azz, no offense intended...)

Also, I do not feel that the intiative is about saving jobs. It is about getting bloated governement expenditures down. Reduce the size of government.

I feel the consumer will benefit from a reduced cost to them when they purchase alcohol. This alone is a value to the taxpayers.

[rasbo]

yes on this,then lets go after federal and state unions...

[gasman]

I am with you ice 

Get teh Gov. out of the liquor busines and would liek to walk in to  Safeway, Fred Meyers< Market Place, Costco, etc... and buy my boose. Enjoyed the variety you can get at the grocery store that you cant get at a stste run store. The state only sells a fraction of the liq. available to consumers. I always stop in a liq. store when I am in other states and always see and but items I cant get here in WA.