Posted: 7/29/2007 8:31:28 PM EDT
|
The wife and I had a little discussion driving home tonight about the state being into alcohol pushing. She noticed the liquor store in Sultan was open as we went and commented on it. She hadn't heard the state is now allowing some stores to open on Sunday. This brought about a discussion about the state's culpability in producing alkys and the state's responsibility in a drunk driving accident. A bar/individual having a party can get sued for letting someone drive while drunk. How come the state isn't automatically included as a responsible party anytime there is a lawsuit surrounding a drunk driving accident? They certainly supply all the booze!! I know its probably the whole government is never responsible for anything nor can you sue even if the government deliberately fucks up. Personally I think its reprehensible that the state is in the business of selling alcohol. But then I think we have an worthless asshole for governor too, and that hasn't gotten me anywhere.  Do you think the state should be in the drug pushing business? |
|
The less state interference in peoples lives the better. I've often wondered if state monopoly of spirits vending has any influence on alcohol abuse. WA and OR both have monopolies where MT has liquor sold in grocery stores (as does CA). I'd be interested in seeing some data from otherwise similar states with different booze distribution policies. |
|
While I won't get into the legality of holding the state (or any other liquor distributor, wholesale or retail) responsible for drunken drivers I will say this... While it would be REALLY nice to have private held and run liquor stores to help with price, selection, and hours. There is no possible way the State of Washington will ever relinquish control of the stores. SOOO since they won't, I applaud them for loosening up a bit and allowing Sunday sales. I was shocked to hear the millions they made on the few stores that were the test stores. I would like to see the state to extend the hours from 8 or 9 am until 11 or midnight seven days a week. The generated revenue might be useful to our tax happy government, which MIGHT help keep .gov off our asses for higher sales taxes, property taxes, gas taxes, etc... |
I wouldn't put any money on that bet. They will tax the shit out of you no matter how much they have. They have a 1 billion dollar rainy day fund and still raised taxes. |
And who says our friendly Democrat heavy state government doesn't raise taxes! I love my little liberal friends who seem to think only the rich get it! With the liquor stores, they don't need to raise the alocohol taxes, just longer hours would increase the sales and revenue. Oh, to dream I guess!  |
|
+1 I was spoiled living in while Arizona where every grocery store sold booze 'til 2am, but there are many places in this country worse off than Washington (in Pennsylvania you must buy beer from a designated beer store, or even worse than PA, a God forsaken dry county.) |
I ran into one of those in Colorado one summer. They were only dry on the weekends, but we were not aware of that. You couldn't even buy beer.  |
One small comfort is that you can carry out from the bars in PA. ETA: I don't think PA has any dry counties, just townships. |