What 2022 Taught Us About Freeing American Alcohol Markets

[GURPS]

In the early months of the pandemic, state governments were reacting in real time to unprecedented circumstances. The new environment included stay-at-home orders, social distancing guidelines, and masking mandates. It no longer became viable for most retail businesses to rely solely on an in-person customer base, as the entire economy shifted over to a delivery-centric model. Restaurants, breweries, wineries, and neighborhood liquor stores all faced an existential business crisis.

States reacted by upending a nearly centurylong consensus on alcohol regulations. Before, it was essentially unheard-of to let a pizzeria throw in a margarita with a delivery order. Then states started issuing emergency orders that allowed it. And practices that had been slightly more common—such as allowing alcohol to be included in grocery store deliveries, which numerous states permitted before COVID-19—spread to an unprecedented number of locales.

Unsurprisingly, these changes proved popular. In states where citizens were polled, strong majorities expressed their support for more types of to-go and delivery booze. Lawmakers can read polls, and a wave of states either extended the reforms or made them permanent.

What 2022 taught us about freeing American alcohol markets

Reformers had two years of unprecedented victories—and then protectionists started using scare tactics to block them

reason.com

 

[glhs837]

Wait, so more freedom is good? Not letting the dsitrubutors lobby decide what citizens can get is a good thing?

 

[Hijinx]

If a bar runs out of booze, they cannot run out to a liquor store and purchase a bottle.
All liquor has to come from a distributor , and there are only 2 distributors in Md.
It's a pretty good monopoly they have going .
At least that is what i am told. Anyone know different?

 

[spr1975wshs]

When we went to my wife's 40th class reunion in late September 2021, Vermont had passed a COVID measure of legalizing take out cocktails from bars and restaurants.

 

[glhs837]

Now let's do this s*** with cars

 

[BernieP]

If a bar runs out of booze, they cannot run out to a liquor store and purchase a bottle.
All liquor has to come from a distributor , and there are only 2 distributors in Md.
It's a pretty good monopoly they have going .
At least that is what i am told. Anyone know different?

I know that most bars and liquor stores use the same distributor, if they don't carry it, you can't get it.
The liquor store next to Salsas is one of the odd balls. Not sure if there are others. But like a lot of stuff it's a way to put extra money in the state coffers and probably in some politician's pocket.
Because when vendors have to compete for a limited number of licenses (franchise) we all knows who makes bank and who pays.