Big boys want to sell hard liquor; let’s just say no

opinions

January 28, 2011 - 12:00 AM

A coalition of large retailers — discount stores, convenience stores, drug stores, grocers, etc. — is pushing to change Kansas liquor laws to permit them to sell hard liquor, strong beer and full strength wines.
They have managed to get a bill into the Kansas Senate to permit the change.
Bad idea.
If Walmart and Iola’s convenience stores could sell what only liquor stores may sell today, most of Iola’s liquor stores would be forced out of business — and area highways would become more dangerous.
The argument for expanding the hard liquor market is that more jobs  and more tax revenue would be created. Liquor store associations disagree on the jobs. Sure, it may take another clerk and warehouseman at Walmart to handle the increased volume. But the additional profit would go to Walmart headquarters rather than stay in Iola. The amount that would stay in Iola and benefit the economy here almost certainly would shrink.
Iola’s “mom and pop” liquor stores hire two to four employees each. Analysts guess that most of those jobs would evaporate if the multi-state stores gain the right to sell booze.
The result would be more empty stores, fewer jobs, fewer investors in Iola’s business community, and no additional service to the public.
In addition, putting strong beer and hard liquor in convenience stores where motorists stop to buy gas is flat dumb.
Kansas lawmakers should deep-six this bill before it sees daylight.

 

— Emerson Lynn, jr.

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