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By Ellen Robinson

The out-of-state grocery store chains would like nothing more than to convince Coloradans that the Colorado liquor laws should be changed to promote “one-stop shopping convenience,” but the truth is much different.

In the past, members of law enforcement, parents groups, churches, local governments, small businesses and others have fought hard against this measure and they will again, because they know this dramatic change to Colorado’s liquor laws would have a negative impact across this state.

A recent editorial by the Rocky Mountain News advocated a change in Colorado’s liquor laws to allow grocery stores to sell a full-range of liquor for little more reason than its opinion that the law is an annoyance (“Beer without pretzels,” Aug. 22).

However, there is another side to this story that Coloradans should understand.

The Colorado legislature and thoughtful community groups from across Colorado have opposed this drastic change to our alcohol laws because they know it would further burden our law enforcement efforts to combat underage drinking, greatly reduce consumer choice and drive hundreds of small, locally owned stores out of business.

In fact, just last year, a similar statewide measure allowing wine in grocery stores failed in Massachusetts. Residents there recognized that this issue runs deeper than mere consumer convenience.

More than 30 police chiefs, members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and even the head of the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission came out against the measure because it would “undermine the system as a whole and make meaningful law enforcement nearly impossible.”

Police chiefs said that their departments would be strained by the need to do compliance checks on more retailers and expressed concerns that allowing grocery stores to sell liquor would give kids easier access to alcohol. Parents also worried about easier access and significantly more exposure to liquor and check-out clerks, who are often under the age of 21, selling wine.

Proponents of changing this law almost always try to frame the issue as “convenience,” but at what cost?

The truth is, anyone who has shopped at grocery stores in California or Texas knows that alcohol prices are not lower than independent liquor stores and consumers are left with few choices.

It’s ironic that Colorado liquor stores sell California wines to Californians that they can’t buy in their home state because the grocery stores refuse to carry more than a few mass-produced brands. Currently, many Colorado liquor stores carry more than 10,000 different types of product vs. 400 at the typical liquor-selling grocery store.

If grocery stores are allowed to sell wine or liquor, not only will hundreds of small and specialty wine and liquor businesses be wiped out, but consumers will actually have to travel farther and look harder to find their favorite bottle of wine or brand of liquor.

Not too convenient.

In addition to the safety concerns and the negative impact on consumer choice, with a change to the liquor laws driven by out-of-state grocers, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart, California-based Safeway and Ohio-based Kroger (King Soopers) will drive hundreds of small, locally-owned liquor stores out of business and take their profits out of Colorado, hurting local economies, commercial real estate and Colorado jobs. These small businesses are owned and run by friends and neighbors, many of whom have been running their businesses day to day for many, many years. These small business owners are supporters of their neighborhoods and community and profits from these Colorado-based small-business owners stay in Colorado and help the Colorado economy.

Keeping our communities and children safe, maintaining consumer choice and supporting locally owned businesses have been the foundation of Colorado’s responsible liquor laws in the past and should be in the future.

Ellen Robinson is co-owner of Denver’s Argonaut Liquors.

READER COMMENTS

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I want to know what you have to drink for this to make sense:

"The more government involves itself in keeping businesses from selling things, the more choices are available to consumers."

California residents do not travel to Colorado to buy wine; that's ridiculous. Beer in Texas is genuinely cheaper than beer in Colorado. Since there are a lot more liquor stores than grocery stores in Denver, the police enforcement argument is non-sequitur: If you replace three liquor stores with one grocery store, how is that more difficult for police to inspect?

If grocery stores well real beer and wine, it doesn't change teenagers' exposure to alcohol, because 3.2 beer is already sold in every grocery and convenience store you can find. It might help change the culture of drinking from excess (a 12 pack of Coors) to tasteful moderation (a pint of fine porter).

The bottom line is that the "liquor store" system is yet another bad idea that came out of post-prohibition hysteria.

Ellen-
I am ashamed that the owner of a business that I love and respect would pen something so utterly self-serving, illogical and contrary to the foundations of free-market business. Truly you should be ashamed for presenting such a thinly-veiled argument. If you don't want the competition, admit it, and say that Argonaut does not want to compete with the larger companies.

The liquor laws in Colorado are outdated... period. One cannot look at our blue-laws in comparison with other states and argue otherwise. Further, one can look at alcohol stats from states that have changed their blue-laws, and see that all of your dire predictions are unfounded.

Also, having spent months at a time in places like California, etc... where one can find alcohol in the Grocery store... I can say that a consumer need not look far to find their favorite wine or spirit... shops that continue to offer a wide selection will continue to prosper... plain and simple.

I understand your need to protect you business, I really do. However, as a loyal customer and fellow Colorado resident, I am offended by your cheap tricks and the intellegence-insulting argument you propose. In fact, it is so insulting I might discontinue spending money at Argonaut altogether, and I have to say that many of my friends feel the same way.

When I moved to Colorado from California a few years back, one of the hardest adjustments I had to make was to our arcane liquor laws here -- no alcohol sales on Sundays and no liquor sales in grocery stores. In California, you can buy any sort of liquor on a 24-7 basis subject only to local regulation.

New Mexico used to ban Sunday liquor sales, as did many other states. Most have since rescinded those bans and it is high time for Colorado to do the same.

While I'm sympathetic to the argument that regulations can improve society, I'd rather see Colorado copy some of California's environmental and land use/growth regulations than focus on regulations that limit consumer choice without any demonstrable societal gain.

I am always amused when some business owner declares that changing the operating rules for all the other potential business owners is a "society" issue!!
Liquor stores in this State want to insure that they remain the only source for their products.
They want a monopoly.
Claiming otherwise is, at the very least, disingenuous.

you should really be thankful that you can even buy alcohol here, i come from a sh!t hole town in west texas called Lubbock, you cannot buy any alcohol in the city at all, you have to drive outside of town (30 miles) to get it because their backwoods, fundamental Christian ways say dancing' and drinking are the works of the devil.....i dont mind going grocery shopping and then going to a nearby liquor store to buy my bier and wine , i actually enjoy the drive or walk cause unless you live outside of Denver there almost always a liquor store in walking distance

Your concern is quite self-serving, my dear. The liquor laws in Colorado protect independents at all costs, providing a less than equal playing field for others. What other industry keeps products out of the big guys, allows for a mandatory day off and discourages new stores?

I've just returned from a wonderful trip to California where upscale, gourmet stores abound. These stores feature incredible foods and a wide selection of wines and liquors, complete with staff capable of assisting with food pairing. What a shame Colorado is unable to experience such a shopping trip. Instead we end up traipsing from one chain grocery store to a filthy store like yours to find the perfect wine for dinner. I can only hope that some day soon we'll see an end to these antiquated laws and we can join the rest of civilized culture.

For Yaakov's sake, I will cut down on the amphigory and play it straight.

Froward,

Finally you are right.. As a truck driver I've been in every one of the lower 48 states. There is no good reason to keep these restrictions in place other than to protect the liquor stores. Letting the various supermarkets sell liquor will be competition. NO reason to protect a market.

Any "compassion" for the small businessman is already proven false, as you said Froward, by the anti-smoking ordinance. (Trying to find out about someone in Washington who told the smoking nazis to take a hike and is forcing a jury trial in his commnunity. Maybe someone here could try it.)

To be concerned about liquor sales might be noble if this same group hadn't been totally in favor of selling beer and gasoline at the same time.

Sorry Ellen. I shop at Argonaut regularly--it's a great store--but our laws are anachronistic and need to be changed. Consumers want convenience and one-stop shopping. Yes, it will put some of the smaller stores at risk but that alone shouldn't be sufficient to prevent change.

With regard to your logic, you make the assumption (likely correct) that the number of specialty retailers will decrease. However, later in the essay you note that police will be strained in their efforts to do ID checks on "more retailers." Which is it? Shouldn't consolidation of liquor distribution make it easier to police offenders?

Grocers will not carry the varieties that specialty stores will--and that is why good stores (like yours) will continue to do well after the laws are changed.

Let the citizens (VOTERS) decide if the liquor laws should be changed, not grocery chain owners or liquor store owners or politicians or other special interest groups.

Darin,

Robison presented arguments that you may or may not agree with. But she presented arguments. You just tried to make fun of her. You should be ashamed of yourself. If you have something you think is rational to say, say it. Otherwise be quiet.

Froward clearly shares your conclusion but he discusses the issue rationally. He is convincing. You sound like you need to grow up.

Ms. Robinson's argument about checking ID is also flawed. I'm over 40 and never get checked for my ID in normal liquor stores. However, if I purchase wine from the Target in Glendale I get carded every time....at more than twice the legal drinking age.

First your argument of “greatly reduce consumer choice and drive hundreds of small, locally owned stores out of business.” Was not a big concern, when it came to the smoking ban.
Second having shopped at Argonaut, along with others. I can tell you honestly that your store drives the cost of liquor in Colorado. Smaller stores watch your prices regularly. And adjust theirs promptly.
Third you failed to mention New Mexico, there they have had liquor in grocery stores for years. Without any adverse effects you described. Also in New Mexico, specialty liqueur stores thrive.
Citing MADD is flawed. They would close your doors if given the chance. Really you are just trying to quash competition, and choice.

I can understand Ellen Robison's aversion to allowing supermarkets and other commercial oulets to sell liquor as it would directly impact her own business, but her list potential negative effects is over the top. I think that she should have included global warming, increased property taxes, traffic congestion and gay marriage as potential results of expanding Colorado's liquor sales if she really wanted to sell her position.

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