The great Colorado full strength beer in grocery store debate (Denver: sales, neighborhood)

[SkyDog77]

A good take in the Denver Post. I'm against it if it means less variety and more difficulty for small Brewers to make it.

No, don't allow Colorado grocery stores to sell full-strength beer and wine - The Denver Post

[xeric]

I lean against it for the same reasons, but this paragraph really irritated me:

"For example, in Washington state, which voted in 2011 to allow liquor sales in chain stores, prices have gone up and, according to a report to the state legislature, there have also been increases in alcohol-related emergency room visits, liquor thefts, and "pro-alcohol attitudes" among youth."

Businesses that make their living by selling alchoholic beverages should not be making any sort of "dangers of alcohol" argument to support their right to monopolize liquor sales.

[SkyDog77]

I agree. That was a strange point to leverage.

[allprolab]

Originally Posted by xeric

I lean against it for the same reasons, but this paragraph really irritated me:

"For example, in Washington state, which voted in 2011 to allow liquor sales in chain stores, prices have gone up and, according to a report to the state legislature, there have also been increases in alcohol-related emergency room visits, liquor thefts, and "pro-alcohol attitudes" among youth."

Businesses that make their living by selling alchoholic beverages should not be making any sort of "dangers of alcohol" argument to support their right to monopolize liquor sales.

That's called a lobbyist. And they will spew all kinds of crap. It's also not uncommon for them to hire a lobbyist to debate against the very business they own. I use to work for someone who did this quite often.

[denverian]

I'm leaning against changing things. Yes, I like getting wine in Trader Joe's, but I prefer keeping profits in state as much as possible. And if it would put a damper on our craft breweries, then that's a big negative. Things are fine as they are.

In California, the mom and pop liquor stores usually had a deli and grocery items to lure people in and the alcohol was an afterthought with little variety. You actually had to go to a grocery store or BevMo (big chain liquor store) to find much variety.

[bartonizer]

I recently moved from CO to WA, and I disagree that such a change would put a damper on craft breweries- especially IF growler laws were changed. Seems to me the change would affect the liquor store business more than the consumer, who IMHO would benefit from more options.

The NW is hyper-local, more so than in CO. Every grocery store I've visited is filled with OR and WA beers. Everyone has their carts filled with beers from the area. The really nice thing, though, is buying growlers of your favorite beers at the corner store or neighborhood bottle shop, where I can sit and have a pint and then take the growler to go. Fresher beer and the chance to have a draft beer from non-bottling breweries are very nice options.....

There are a lot more places to purchase beer out here compared to CO, where you get your beer at either a liquor store or at the brewery. I would think that WA and OR's approach would translate into more revenue streams and chances at brand exposure, which would be better for both the consumer and brewer (especially the small ones.)

Overall, buying your favorite beer out here is a lot more casual and convenient than it is in CO- and substantially less grungy. And if the demand for local products is there (which it is), the selection in most chain grocery stores would reflect that. Let me repeat that. Contrary to what people may believe, national grocery stores these days don't just sell AB products, they also sell regional beers. Macros may take up a lot of their shelf space, but they do at liquor stores as well. Opening bottle shops would also help keep the focus local. So how does expanding the number of sales outlets for local brewers hurt their business? And how does a middleman that serves little purpose help things out? Again, in my opinion the DP opinion is more about keeping liquor stores in business than it is about safety, or keeping the thriving micro scene alive.

[SkyDog77]

Agree about changing the growler law. Not sure about the rest.

[davebarnes]

All laws regulating booze sales should be abolished.

[Rainbow Demon]

I like it dave! Let's do the same for weed!

[MattCA]

It would be nice to buy some bombers from the grocery store instead of making separate trips. The liquor stores can also be a little pricey. Growler fills at the grocery store??? I think that would be kind of weird. I feel like half the experience is checking out the brewery and walking out with a tap filled bottle of their beer/printed growler.