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BAR[_2_]

In article ,
says...

On Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:53:29 -0500, Boating All Out
wrote:

In article ,
says...

On Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:05:59 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

I don't see reasonable limits on the number of liquor stores as
"restraining trade." There's about 80,000 people living in this county.
We sure as hell don't "need" 80 liquor stores.

You don't think the market would decide that? You also have to include
bars and some restaurants in that number depending on how the law is
written. In Florida a class A license is needed to own a liquor store
but you can also operate a "lounge" under that license. That is why
you see one at most big liquor stores here,

I am kind of curious about how the Walmart/Walgreens/Costco stores are
impacting that model.

Yep. What happened to the "free market?"
Pretty sure "church people" had a big say in liquor licensing in every
state. Probably influenced more now by corruption - special interest
lobbying. Seedy business. You tried to score, eh?
It's all easily fixable if the politicians were honest.
Outside of zoning which doesn't want liquor sales, just license any
location/owner which qualifies. Renew every year. Location is sold to
a new guy, he just has to background qualify like the previous owner.
Location violates licensing rule or causes trouble, shut it down.
What's so hard about it? Lobbyists.
Quotas are driven by "church people" or corruption.
You think Walmart/Walgreens/Costco have to enter a lottery to sell
liquor? Hah.
Quotas or not, allowing a private party to sell a government license is
inherently corrupt.
Use it or lose it.

Most of the liquor laws are lingering remnants of Prohibition,
particularly in those states where the church is powerful.

Walmart can just buy a license and they have the legal compliance
department to keep them out of regulatory trouble.
At a certain point you have to believe the big players who can buy a
few legislators like this to be expensive and complicated to get into,
to limit the competition ... but I think the same thing is true of
most licensing and complex regulation.

Damascus, Maryland just got on-premesis alcohol. It had been dry for
over 100 years.