The short title reads:
TO CLARIFY THAT A LIQUOR PERMIT APPLIES 15 TO ONE LOCATION AND A PERSON, FIRM, OR 16 CORPORATION SHALL NOT USE A LIQUOR PERMIT 17 FOR MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.
The following are my reactions to this bill and not to a particular person or legislator.
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"All you need to do is look at the history of laws in commerce. You will find large commercial businesses want to protect their dominance of the markets and will support laws favorable to that position with great fervor. It is based on the political theory that entities will nearly always act in their own self interest.
Who wanted Napster convicted of piracy or violation of copyright laws? 1) Rhapsody, iTunes, and the like. (though some musicians got the publicity, they weren't the real lobby on the issue).
Who wanted stricter laws on cigarette additives? Phillip-Morris, because they could afford to comply and force smaller manufacturers out of business.
It goes on and on. Large corporations are famously behind most limits on our capitalist system. No matter where you stand on liquor sales or consumption, this law is a bad idea. In supporting this law you won't be ridding the state of liquor sales, you will be assuring that big box retailers have a monopoly on liquor. They will have the money to lobby the legislature and eventually Wal-Mart won't only be selling wine and beer, they will also be selling hard liquor because the state will see it as an opportunity to increase revenue.
Think more broadly and you will have greater understanding of politics and commerce."
Yesterday at 6:54pm
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"For clarification, liquor licenses are not cheap or easy to obtain. This specifically hurts smaller businesses looking to expand because they likely do not have the seemly unlimited resources of big box retailers to pursue multiple licenses... for multiple locations. Large retailers will have a distinct advantage should this pass.
However, I can see where a small business may think this will actually hurt Wal-Mart, it is my belief they are mistaken. Who can readliy afford the fees and bureaucracy associated with multiple licenses? Not Mom and Pop's Fine Wine & Spirits, that's for sure.
Since the law being passed allowing Wal-Mart to sell beer and wine has gone in to effect, many NWA liquor stores have gone out of business. This in capitalism, I have nothing against that. Competition is good and healthy. I have nothing against Wal-Mart selling liquor. I do have something against laws that will favor one entity over another and create an artificial monoply."
Yesterday at 7:04pm
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"It is my fear some Republicans will sign on to this bill simply because they feel it is their moral/religious obligation to do so. Legislators in dry counties may see this as an opportunity to limit liquor sales across other parts of the state.
However, I must once again point out their bad assumption. Wal-Mart possesses the lobby power to eliminate county option which is the law allowing counties to remain dry if they so choose (this law also incorporates Sunday sales).
The irony of someone who opposes liquor sales supporting this bill is the inevitability that this will more quickly lead to the elimination of county option. As Wal-Mart gains market share and Mom & Pops' go by the wayside legislators will see the golden egg of big box liquor sales statewide and act accordingly.
Maybe I'm reaching but it is how I see it."
22 hours ago22 hours ago
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I hope to get some good debate from my readers on this one.
Even though I disagree with the current legislation that I think it is flawed and poorly written I must take exception with your argument regarding WalMart and Big Box stores. I can only rely on the experiences and observations in my former life, decades spent in California.
ReplyDeleteWalMart, COSTCO, Sams Club, Mom & Pop Liquor Stores, Neighborhood Chains, Convenience Stores, every supermarket and etc. sell every kind of adult beverage in CA as in many other states. There are more than enough customers to go around as both the supply and demand are high. Even in this terrible economy I haven't heard of many liquor stores, large or small, being foreclosed on.
To the contrary, numerous liquor stores in Fayetteville have gone out of business over the last 2 years directly due to the competitive advantage of Walmart and Sam's Club. Though I am for capitalism, I am not for forcing the JV team to play in the NFL.
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