Read last sentence

https://www.whec.com/news/wegmans-fined-11m-for-illegally-running-liquor-stores/5153170/?cat=565

Ouch.

I’m thankful for hot links

It sounds like Wegmans was trying to run the liquor stores the same way that Premier does it.  Each Premier is privately owned (all relatives IIRC) but they buy as a team to keep the prices low.

That way you get mass-purchased prices without violating NY's "mom and pop" liquor store laws.

I think those are the stupidest laws on the books yet the liquor industry fights tooth and nail to keep those "mom and pop" stores in business. Here on Long Island we have Stew Leonard's supermarkets which also have "unaffiliated" liquor stores. One I shop at is officially owned by the sister of the owner of the supermarket chain. There are two other in New York State that I have no visited and not sure who "officially" owns them. They clearly state they are independently owned and not affiliated with the store they are named after

Then we also have a great chain of discount liquor stores, one in my home area, that are all "independent" but have the same store decor and prices:

Bottle Hamptonhttps://www.bottlehampton.com/

Bottle Bargains
https://www.bottlebargains.com/

Bottles and Cases
https://www.bottlesandcases.com/

Bottle Values
https://www.bottlevalues.com/

Bottle Buys
https://www.bottlebuys.com/

I shop at two of them and you need separate loyalty cards but they have the same sales and prices including a $10 off any purchase on Veteran's Day each year.

I like that they worked out a business model that allows them to operate but the New York State law is crap.

I'm actually glad - One of the more prominent names affiliated with NY is now pissed at NY.  They have two choices pay including future payment to support the corrupt politicians in NY to support your business. or move HQ to another state.  This is a shakedown for not only the fine, but the leveraging of quiet money to be paid to politicians campaigns, etc. avoid such things in the future.

The language of Wegmans response leads me to believe they tire of the shakedown and the Draconian methods of NY politics to squeeze money from the few thriving businesses in NY.

Pull out of NY and when they say why you make it plan as day.. Due to the shakedown of the corrupt  none sense in NY.

Tom Golisano just withdrew a multimillion dollar gift to Rochester because they can’t get their act together.   He moved his legal residence to FL a few years ago because it saved him $15,000 in taxes.   That’s $15,000 each day!

Btw last week in FL I paid $2.39/ gallon for gas.

That's why I like the state I'm currently in.  I can get a bottle of wine wherever I want  - from a liquor store or a grocery store.  And if they don't have what I want I can order online and have it shipped AFAIK.

I remember walking into a Rite-Aid south of San Jose many years ago and was shocked to see an aisle with a wide selection of liquor. Same at the local Albertson's there. Just another "grocery" as far as they were concerned.

Of course New York is not unique in odd liquor laws. New Hampshire has their "State Stores" but they have/had very good prices. Massachusetts has their "Package Stores". Not sure what PA is up to these days. They had state stores but then did some kind of convoluted privatization.

Premier is great. We always stop at Premier in Orchard Park on the way back from Canada. Good prices and vastly better selection than what's available in Ohio.