|
|
||
Think twice before privatizing ABC stores Date published: 7/20/2010
PRIVATIZING Virginia's ABC stores? State Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw has some pretty firm feelings about the subject: "He [Gov. Bob McDonnell] can call a special session [for that purpose], but he's not going to get what he wants." Selling off state liquor stores is a large part of the governor's scheme to build and repair Virginia's lagging transportation system. But, notes Mr. Saslaw, the stores put up to $150 million a year in state coffers. Mr. McDonnell's plan sells the cow, but prevents the state henceforth from selling milk. It's a bit of a gimmick that's not very far-sighted. Libertarians would love it, but they are being culturally obtuse. Liquor, hooch, firewater--whatever label you put on it, it's in a different category than the million other things that the nation never outlawed for 13 years and that most states and localities even today keep a close eye on. Almost all states--even if they have "privatized" liquor outlets--still exert control on alcohol sales by restricting hours, banning Sunday sales, retaining wholesale monopolies, and so on. That's because alcohol is something unique in our society--a legal recreational drug whose consumption leads to inebriation and to all the dangers unleashed by impaired judgment. Alcohol addiction can cause job and family loss and early death. On balance, alcohol may be a plus, a catalyst to conviviality, a stress reliever--but there's no denying its propensity for tragic misuse. By controlling alcoholic beverages-- by "C"ing the "A" and "B"--in their most potent form, the state imbeds in the social subconscious the reality of alcohol's special hazard. Booze is so tricky, society observes, that the state itself stands a wary guard over it. This role is located on the periphery of the state's primary mandate--ensuring public safety. Just under that duty as a basic state function justifying general taxation is road building and upkeep. An increase in the state gasoline tax and tolling are logical ways to indefinitely strengthen Virginia's mobility grid. Selling off the lucrative liquor stores may bring short-term joy, but soon the state budget will be singing "How Dry I Am."
"getting the govt out of the business". The govt will still
enforce the restrictions with regard to it's use just as they
dowith beer and wine.
Where or not the state should be involved with regulation
and restriction is a separate issue from whether the state
should be ALSO selling liquor.
But I know of NO STATE that funds it's transportation from
liquor sales.
In fact, there has always been a NEXUS between those who
use the roads - should pay for them - let's keep that idea.
Free Enterprise capitalism! Get the Govenment out of everyting that could be done by the free market.
LOL, leclare, after the first two drinks it doesn;t matter any more...haha
The Governor is being criticized for doing just what two of our rather liberal governments (Maryland and DC) have already done. Whether the state runs the stores, or merely collects taxes from private entrepreneurs, the money will still come in. In addition, an entrepreneur can set up his/her store to reflect the local market, stocking whatever else sells. Your local ABC store sells booze and not much else. And an added bonus-fewer state employees!
instead of anything approaching logic in his post. The Commonwealth has been in the liquor business for years and absent any proof to the opposite it appears to have handled the business extremely well. So what benefit is to be gained by giving it up to the Free Enterprise system? And how does turning the sale of hard liquor over to Free Enterprise make booze any less bad for peoples health? If it ain't broke don't fix it Governor. The party of NO has messed up enough already. Leave well enough alone.
but I don't like paying the prices that the ABC stores charge. Scotch that's $11 to $14 (1/2 g.) in DC is 17 to 24 here. Single malt is impossible here--and little or no cheapest brands of either of the 2 scotches or vodkas or gins or cognacs, etc. The DC prices can be really low on the cheapest off brands or name brands, and for mixed drinks my alcohol-numbed tongue cant tell the difference in price of the booze in a mixed drink. Wines are priced OK with competition, like Wegmans and Total, but not booze.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
