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Friday, December 16, 2011

Drunk Holy Crap! Will We Be Able to Buy Liquor in Grocery Stores?

Posted by Sarah Mirk on Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 3:59 PM

This illustration doesnt really relate, but I love it.
  • Patrick Long
  • This illustration doesn't really relate, but I love it.
Exciting Oregonian article this morning, guys! As Denis mentioned in Good Morning News, ye olde Oregon Liquor Control Commission is considering changing two key rules that would allow liquor to be sold in grocery stores and (squee!) beer to be sold in liquor stores!

The regulation changes will be up for a vote at the OLCC commission in March and would allow liquor stores to sell beer and wine, plus allow corporations to apply for wholesale liquor-selling contracts. Currently, only individuals can apply to run liquor stores, but under the new rules, businesses like Safeway, Fred Meyer and the Portland Mercury (yes, please) could apply to open a "store within a store" to sell hard alcohol by the bottle. Two of these stores already exist as a pilot-project in the region, on a large scale, they would be like in-store Starbucks or bank branches, which are operated independently from the grocery stores they inhabit.

The OLCC has been working on developing the new rules for about two years, says OLCC spokeswoman Christie Scott, noting that they're not motivated by Washington's recent privatization of liquor sales.

As a person who likes to consumes alcohol in responsible quantities, the current geographic segregation of beer sales from liquor sales is frustrating. The OLCC's reasoning for keeping the two sales separated is that a proliferation of stores selling hard liquor could lead to higher crime rates. Changing these rules would not lead to a flood of new liquor stores, it would just allow corporations to apply to run liquor stores whenever a slot opens. The state has contracts with 246 liquor stores in the state, says OLCC spokeswoman Christie Scott, and has opened about six new contracts in the past two years.

Since this is essentially creating a process to build a loophole into state law to allow sales of liquor in grocery stores, why not just go all the way and scrap the liquor segregation law? Scott explains that rewriting liquor law to that extent would require the legislature to pass a bill changing state law. Instead, the OLCC is working to change its regulations without needing sign-off from the state.

 

Comments (8) RSS

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1
As someone who likes to consume alcohol in unreasonable quantities, the current segregggtioon ofof ddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
Posted by ($8239f8h248cerfehjf23@&*@ebdjhb23f237OCDBO#BD*(# on December 16, 2011 at 4:03 PM · Report
2
This is an end run to prevent dissolution of the OLCC like they did in WA with the WLCC. Smart.
Posted by Jerry Ketel on December 16, 2011 at 4:11 PM · Report
3
I was just talking with a liquor store owner about this. The difference here is that liquor store owners aren't state employees; they're contractors. So frankly, this won't change anything except removing the number two source of income to the state's general fund.
Posted by rich bachelor on December 16, 2011 at 4:23 PM · Report
4
As someone with a passion for distilled spirits, I very much appreciate the OLCC. See GMN for details.
Posted by Fruit Cup on December 16, 2011 at 4:36 PM · Report
5
Dump the OLCC.
Posted by frankieb on December 16, 2011 at 5:15 PM · Report
6
Prohibition didn't work then and it doesn't work now. That's why I want folks to be able to purchase their vodka, heroin and Cheetos all in the same store.
Posted by Number Six on December 16, 2011 at 5:45 PM · Report
7
I really REALLY hope this passes. I hate going into liquor stores. I look 12, so they always treat me like I have a fake ID. Somehow I feel like it will be better if I'm in a grocery store.
Posted by ScrumYummy on December 16, 2011 at 7:44 PM · Report
8
The only thing I miss about California are the 1.5-liter plastic bottles of generic vodka at Safeway. Well, that and bikinis during the winter. (Though I could never really find one that fit me properly.)
Posted by Todd Mecklem on December 17, 2011 at 2:27 PM · Report

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