On April 25, the Citizens for Free Market Liquor (C4FML) kicked off a campaign to change Washington State Liquor Laws at Oscars II in the Central District.

Currently, the state handles all hard liquor sales. This means that in larger cities, the State owns and runs all liquor stores. In smaller towns, State licensed shops are operated privately but are regulated by the state liquor board. All restaurants and bars cannot make wholesale purchases from manufacturers, but are told-- by the State-- at what liquor stores they can make purchases, and, indirectly, what hard alcohol is available.

To remedy this, C4FML proposes Initiative 706: "Grocery Stores and other businesses would be licensed by the liquor control board to distribute liquor (Spirits, Beer, Wine), or to sell at retail. The Liquor control board would regulate the wholesale price of alcoholic beverages, as described in the measure, but the board would no longer be authorized to operate state-owned stores."

In other words, the State would still regulate alcohol sales, but without direct involvement in day-to-day retail sales. In this way, licensed establishments such as restaurants and bars would be able to purchase to whichever distributor is best suited, and purchase whatever legal beverage is on the market.

C4FML also proposes Initiative 705: "This measure would repeal basic and additional beer taxes imposed by RCW 66.24.290." Initiative 705 uses the current tax level, however it proposes taxing just the alcoholic portion of the beverage, thereby lowering the cost of lower alcohol content beverages.

These measures aim to decrease the price of alcohol and increase private control of the spirit industry in Washington State. This would lower prices at bars and restaurants and allow for more variety at liquor stores.

For instance, C4FML's Rachel Hawkridge (rachel@c4fml.org) asks why Compari is not available in Washington State?

Everyone involved agrees that lifting all restrictions on alcohol use would be a dangerous mistake. The government has combated drunk driving, severe alcoholism, and under-aged drinking. C4FML questions the necessity of the government competing in private industry to control alcohol use!

For more information about the current licensing policies and regulations visit http://search.leg.wa.gov/ (look up Liquor Licensing, Distribution, and Taxation). The Citizens for Free Market Liquor home page is www.C4FML.org.

What's Your opinion?

Ed Eibel/May 99