Where can I buy Rum, Whiskey, etc. in NoVa? (Arlington: construction, pharmacies)

[normie]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Well the proof of the bottle will be in the tasting.

LOL, I'll drink to that!

[katyusha25]

So, is the car tax issued by the state or by the county? Is there still a car tax?

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by katyusha25

So, is the car tax issued by the state or by the county? Is there still a car tax?

I bumped the car tax thread so you can ask this question there.

[Caladium]

Yesterday McDonnell announced he plans to create up to 1,000 licenses for private retail stores compared with 332 state-run stores now. Three times as many liquor stores? That seems like a lot to me, but maybe it will mean prices will go down if there's more competition.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/finan.../D9I3ST2G0.htm

[ghett61]

That depends on how they set up the system. In some states there are state run stores and private retail stores. The private retail places have to purchase their liquor from the state. So the state is always the cheapest price unless the private stores just want to lose money. The private stores are just opened up a ways out so the people that live way out there pay for the ability to not drive as far for liquor. Also the private stores are open later at night.

[weezycom]

I guess I'm one of the few hoping the measure doesn't get passed and we retain the state-owned & -run stores. All the promises of the money going to NoVa & Hampton Roads is a crock. Every time there's been such an attempt, the rural jurisidictions raise such a fuss that the money is distributed "evenly" across the state and we end up with not enough money to even repave a long section of highway, never mind fixing a huge bottleneck.

Plus, it's a steady, reliable ongoing in perpetuity stream of income that doesn't come with the added costs of diverting police resources to cruise by often enough to keep the shady elements to a minimum, the stores now aren't a hang-out, there isn't a litter problem around the state stores, you know the clerks are more interested in keeping a decent paying job with bennies and retirement than a minimum wage slave getting a quick $10 or $20 to look the other way when an underage drinker tries to score bottle or two. Over time, with the increased bureaucracy that comes with overseeing the licensures, making sure taxes are fully collected, added law enforcement costs, in less than 2 decades I think that Virginia will be running in the red compared to the cost to profit ratio now in effect from the state-run stores.

It reminds me of folks who cashed out their 401ks early to buy an McMansion during the bubble and ended up with no savings and no house.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by weezycom

Plus, it's a steady, reliable ongoing in perpetuity stream of income that doesn't come with the added costs of diverting police resources to cruise by often enough to keep the shady elements to a minimum, the stores now aren't a hang-out, there isn't a litter problem around the state stores, you know the clerks are more interested in keeping a decent paying job with bennies and retirement than a minimum wage slave getting a quick $10 or $20 to look the other way when an underage drinker tries to score bottle or two. Over time, with the increased bureaucracy that comes with overseeing the licensures, making sure taxes are fully collected, added law enforcement costs, in less than 2 decades I think that Virginia will be running in the red compared to the cost to profit ratio now in effect from the state-run stores.

Great points, especially the ones I bolded above. I sure hope these new 1000 new liquor stores don't become trashy places. Sadly, that happens in too many towns.

[pcity]

Most of those 1000 would be grocery stores, warehouse clubs, or places that are currently beer/wine specialty stores.

You won't see drunks hanging out around Costco, Total Wine, or Giant. The "shady liquor store" phenomenon exists more where separate liquor stores are required . MD, DC, DE, and NJ fall into that category. Even in those states, the only place you'll find trashy liquor stores are in places that are already trashy to begin with.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by weezycom

Plus, it's a steady, reliable ongoing in perpetuity stream of income that doesn't come with the added costs of diverting police resources to cruise by often enough to keep the shady elements to a minimum, the stores now aren't a hang-out, there isn't a litter problem around the state stores, you know the clerks are more interested in keeping a decent paying job with bennies and retirement than a minimum wage slave getting a quick $10 or $20 to look the other way when an underage drinker tries to score bottle or two. Over time, with the increased bureaucracy that comes with overseeing the licensures, making sure taxes are fully collected, added law enforcement costs, in less than 2 decades I think that Virginia will be running in the red compared to the cost to profit ratio now in effect from the state-run stores.

VA has no problems overseeing the beer/wine licenses that every Giant, Walmart, and Costco has, so why would overseeing the liquor licenses be any different? Most of the licensees will be places that already sell alcohol, so keeping tabs on them doesn't actually involve much more work.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by pcity

The "shady liquor store" phenomenon exists more where separate liquor stores are required .

They sell liquor in grocery stores in Los Angeles, but where I lived in LA there were still plenty of shady liquor stores (even though you could also buy it at safeway or Vons down the street).

I hope you're right, though. I liked being able to buy liquor at the grocery store in California. If they can keep most of the liquor licenses restricted to groceries, Costco and Total Wine I'll be happy.