ABC Stores Privatized - Getting Rid of State Control of Liquor
Why? I mean....why? There's nothing broke with the system we have. I have never heard one person complain about the State of North Carolina having a monopoly on liquor sales. As far as I'm concerned actually, I prefer to know where to go for my Bombay and Wild Turkey. I don't think lawmakers should be spending their time with this issue when there are better things to concern oneself with, such as the lack of adequate public transportation in North Carolina, or bike lanes, or health care options, or any of the many other things they could fix first....things that actually need fixing.Should we abolish ABC stores?
Posted: Thursday, August 23rd, 2007
Some 500 members of local ABC boards met at the Grove Park Inn in July and were wined (literally) and dined by liquor brokers and other vendors.
News coverage of the event raised questions about whether or not the free golf games, free drinks, food, and hospitality were legal in light of the laws passed last year regarding lobbying and conflicts of interest. First blush is that the ABC boards used poor judgment in allowing this practice, albeit a longstanding one, to continue.
But the story raises a more serious question as to whether or not this state should eliminate the government operated stores. This system was established when North Carolina allowed only brown-bagging, not the current liquor by the drink. It is probable that the state would generate more revenues by licensing retail stores.
If this happened we could expect much opposition from those saying that there would be a liquor store on every corner and we would be encouraging people to drink more. Right. Like they don't already do it.
Bring on the debate. We think it is time to privatize the sale of liquor. With strong controls that include STIFF fines for violators and effective enforcement we would raise revenues for our state and get the government out of a business in which we shouldn't be involved to begin with.
Tom Campbell
Secondly, what's up with the statement :
If this happened we could expect much opposition from those saying that there would be a liquor store on every corner and we would be encouraging people to drink more. Right. Like they don't already do it.Who is 'they' actually, Mr. Campbell? I'd like to know who 'they' are who are implied drunkards already...care to elaborate?
Labels: Raleigh Politics
