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| Signs tweeted by Justin Fidler |
The County is even using schoolchildren as human shields, threatening to derail construction projects at Walt Whitman, Pyle, Ashburton, East Silver Spring, Greencastle, Montgomery Knolls, Pinecrest, Piney Branch, Woodlin, Christa McAuliffe and Col. E. Brooke Lee if voters reject the government liquor monopoly. This even as many of the same elected officials are clamoring to approve classroom-busting, high-density development in those same school clusters in the coming months. Oops.
What else will happen if you pursue your quest for better beer and wine lists, and the right to purchase Bud Light at CVS?
"Liquor stores on every corner," thunders the sign.
Here's a good one - the monopoly actually touts its authority to keep certain liquor products it arbitrarily decides are a little too wild for you, the heavy-tax-paying adult, out of your hands. Boasting of its "power to exclude" certain products - now there's a heckuva way to convince residents that this is a good system. Just what we want: less choice, right?
They also made another gaffe in the process - they state that Montgomery County is only the second-best jurisdiction in Maryland when it comes to alcohol abuse and drunk-driving accidents. So we're not the healthiest in America, as our elected officials boasted? No, not even in the state, according to the County's own propaganda.
Councilmember George Leventhal tussled on Facebook with restaurateur Roberto Pietrobono (Gringos & Mariachis, Olazzo), who asked, "At what point in time would you be fed up if you were in our position as restaurant owners? For me it's been 15 years." Leventhal replied that he hoped the proposed "special orders" change would solve Pietrobono's woes.
Alas, as regular readers here already know, the "special orders" plan won't do that. It will allow the Department of Liquor Control to retain the power to declare which products are special order. It will allow the DLC to levy a tax on those new private liquor transactions, which as anyone who knows about business realizes, will raise the cost of product for consumers and hospitality businesses (of course, the County Council is not known for its vast knowledge of operating businesses). Taxation without limits or accountability to voters. How does that make Montgomery County competitive with the District again?
Are you smart enough to decide the fate of liquor control in Montgomery County?
According to the Sentinel newspaper, Councilmember Leventhal says you aren't. Of Leventhal's opposition to a ballot referendum on the issue, the Sentinel reported "he did not think voters should decide whether to privatize alcohol because they would not understand how it would affect the county." Wow.
Leventhal posted that he thought only restaurant industry insiders were concerned about the County having monopoly control of liquor. But his colleague, Councilmember Hans Riemer, who also favors government retaining monopoly control, recently acknowledged the biggest complaint heard is the inability to buy beer and wine at grocery stores.
It's clear that the people have spoken. Now, will the politicians listen?
As a resident, is your current inability to buy Bud Light or a bottle of chardonnay at Giant, and your being forced to pay more for alcohol than those in the District, really "of little interest" to you?
36 comments:
Is the county allowed to use funds in this manner?
Buying alcohol at Giant is a state rule isn't it?
Liberals in charge always believe they can spend your money better than everyone else. The fact that Leventhal thinks it should not be up for a vote speaks volumes his attitude towards the "little people".
Robert, the legal decision they cite is one that said it is permissible for a government to campaign to further its own interests.
The ban on chain-wide grocery/drugstore/etc. sales is indeed at the state level. But so is virtually every other liquor regulation. You may recall that when a push was made for Damascus to allow beer & wine sales in town, it had to be allowed in Annapolis first.
The question is, why do our elected officials not lobby Annapolis to allow grocery sales when they've lobbied for things like allowing growlers, or wine reforms? They're all at the state level.
Liquor stores on every corner. Like in every other county in the United States, none of which have county-controlled booze sales. LOL. Panic much, MoCo?
And I doubt few, other than the politicians who support the monopoly, would panic if there was a Total Wine or Calvert Woodley on every corner. A great selection, knowledgeable staff, and lower prices.
Who at the state level would actually start the process of change? Is it the people's or local government's position to lobby for this change?
I think it's silly as well that Leventhal actuallysaid it, but to be fair our entire political system works with the idea that the layman sucks at making these types of decisions. Thus we have our electoral college, or even the fact that we have representatives in the first place.
Not saying it's ideal, but Levanthal is speaking some truth. It's just a bit harsh to outright say it. :)
I can't wait for the winos to be lined up to buy their colt 45 outside of 7-11 every morning.
It would be an interesting public health study to see the change in the number of alcohol related hospital admits if this law changes.
Robert Dyer wrote “But new government signs printed at taxpayer expense....”
.....> Mr. Dyer, please know that DLC’s $30 million in profits goes to MC’s general fund. I am sure Office of Public Information also receive funds from the DLC’s $30 million in profits.
Robert Dyer wrote “they state that Montgomery County is only the second-best jurisdiction in Maryland when it comes to alcohol abuse and drunk-driving accidents.”
....>The MC flyer Dyer posted side “Montgomery County has the SECOND LOWEST rate of alcohol abuse and drunk-driving accidents”
Robert Dyer wrote “.....your being forced to pay more for alcohol than those in the District, really "of little interest" to you?”
......> Mr. Dyer, some items are perhaps cheaper in District than MC. Similarly, some items are cheaper in MC than District.
Perhaps, you and I could go shopping together in District and MC. We can even take a news reporter of your choice.
There's already a way to prevent a liquor store on every block -- zoning and permits. Private retailers can already sell beer and wine, and you don't see loads of them on every block, because they can limit the permits. This is an unfounded concern about ending the monopoly.
Dyer: Thanks for featuring this issue more prominently lately. Is there a Twitter hashtag for the movement, like #EndDLCMonopoly or something like that?
7:53: I haven't seen one, but it's not too late to create a hashtag.
>>> "Liquor stores on every corner," thunders the sign.
Well, if this would mean being able to purchase alcohol in CVS stores, then I guess since there's basically a CVS (or Walgreens) on every corner, then mission accomplished.
If alcohol is so dangerous, the Council should move to ban it. Otherwise, get out of the way.
Why stop at Liquor? Get the government out of crack and heroine sales!
The first two bullet points of the first flyer seem to be pretty important in this discussion. If ending the DLC doesn't end the monopoly on distribution, then how does that help consumers? And if ending the DLC doesn't enable liquor sales in grocery stores, etc., then why do people keep pretending like it does?
re: Anon @ 6:28 -- right, because the only thing ReThugs want to spend our hard-earned money on is bombs, guns, and ammo rather than, say, education and health research.
re: Anon @ 6:59 -- I'd say the answer to that question, is the Assembly and Senate in Annapolis.
Honestly, I keep saying the best place to short-circuit this issue is in Annapolis by unifying the liquor laws. Counties should continue to retain control over permitting and whatnot, but other than that....get out of the way.
Is there a petition to get the county out of the liquor business? If so, I'll sign.
7:01: That's not the scenario our Founders envisioned at all. There weren't supposed to be career politicians like George Leventhal. People would volunteer to serve, and then return to their occupation.
This is not the first time Mr. Leventhal has brought a certain speech from V for Vendetta to mind. His statement roughly translates to: "I want everyone to remember why they need us!"
The public's position on liquor sales vs. Mr. Leventhal's assessment of the public's intellectual capacity definitively proves we the unwashed masses are the most perceptive - not our "wise" elected officials.
J. Russel - I believe there is a Change.org petition to allow competition. Not necessarily getting out of the business altogether, which is I think what most residents like you and I want.
@5:16 Next time you write a post on the topic, please include a link to the petition. I bet many people will sign it.
I think allowing competition is a reasonable compromise. It means DLC has to compete like everyone else. Then DLC can decide if they can manage or they need to shut down. I think we can all guess what happens when DLC goes up against efficiently-managed private businesses though.
To the guy who thinks beer is cheaper in MoCo than it is in DC . . . you, sir, are an idiot.
Go to check out the prices of craft beer at a place like Gilly's and then go to any Whole Foods in DC. A six pack of 21st Amendment Brew Free or Die (for example) can be as high as $15.99 in MoCo and as low as $9.99 in DC. I'm sick and tired of driving to Total Wine and More in VA or the Whole Foods in Tenleytown to stock my beer fridge. And you better believe that higher keg prices on smaller craft brands is what's slowing down groups like the Neighborhood Restaurant Group to open as many places up here as they have in NoVA. They'd either have to sacrifice profit, charge $11 for a pint or have a draft line up of "Shock Top Seasonals" which the county has deemed not special order.
Rhett, you appear to have terrible critical reading skills. No one said beer was cheaper in MoCo; someone did say "some items" are cheaper. Liquor is MUCH cheaper in MoCo than DC and especially VA. And the idea you drive 5-15 miles to save a dollar or two on your beer makes me think your brain is mushy beyond just your inability to read.
Do you have a hard time with subtraction? How does the difference between $15.99 and $9.99 seem like "a dollar or two"? By my count it's $6. That's also a 60% difference. BUT WHO'S COUNTING? Not you . . .
Rhett Mitter wrote….. “A six pack of 21st Amendment Brew Free or Die (for example) can be as high as $15.99 in MoCo and as low as $9.99 in DC.
Similarly, some beer in MoCo may cost $9.99 but in D.C it may cost $15.99 or more.
I could tell you that many big grocery chains sell SOME BEERS AND WINES below their original cost just attract and retain customers. This is a very simple business concept for big profits. This is the first think you will learn in economy 101.
Total Wine and More and the Whole Foods are big companies. So I would not be surprise if they sell a six pack of 21st Amendment Brew Free or Die as low as $9.99 to attract and to retain customers.
I used them as examples because everyone knows them. The case price of that SKU is ridiculously more in MoCo. What beer SKU is 50% cheaper in MoCo? I beg you for an example, because I've never seen it, and I don't believe it exists.
Rhett Mitter wrote….. “The case price of that SKU is ridiculously more in MoCo. What beer SKU is 50% cheaper in MoCo?
You misunderstood. No one said “beer SKU is 50% cheaper in MoCo.”
You are assuming “The case price of that SKU is ridiculously more in MoCo” based on hearsay. Not all beer sku is “ridiculously more.”
Individual/Private beer and wine stores in MoCo mark up prices anyway they like. DLC does not control that.
I am sure you will argue that Individual/Private beer and wine purchase from DLC. Well, your argument is valid. However, businesses are allowed to charge consumer any price they like.
I purchase a case of Corona Extra for $39.99 in privately owned beer and wine store. I am certain that the businesses purchase the case of Corona Extra from the DLC for below $30.
So you cannot really blame MoCo for higher price you pay in Individual/Private owned beer and wine stores in Montgomery County.
Can someone explain how abolishing the DLC will increase competition without changing the Maryland state law that says only one distributor is allowed per product?
If not, why not focus on changing the state law first?
The competition between similar brands, not different distributors for the same product, is what keeps prices down. In most places, where Bud Light is sold by one distributor and Miller & Coors Light are sold by another, that competition between similar brands keeps prices down. People wouldn't buy a $30 case of Miller Lite if Bud Light was $25. You find in those places that the wholesale case prices for those brands are kept in line with each other. Those brands aren't the ones that are currently getting shafted by the DLC, however. It's the smaller craft brands that are still way overpriced (especially kegs) because the DLC has to get the product from another middleman who has already marked it up because they don't keep enough in stock. The price you pay for Miller Lite or Corona in MoCo is similar in DC or VA. But the price you pay for a good craft beer like 21st Amendment, The Bruery, etc is much much higher in MoCo because it's being marked up twice.
Rhett Mitter, perhaps if you read and understand Maryland Alcohol laws, you will have better understanding about this topic.
Based on your writing, it appears you have zero (0) knowledge about Maryland Alcohol laws.
Enlighten me, chief
I laugh at the "can't wait to see all the wino's outside 7-11" crowd. Seriously, have you been to any 7-11 in Montgomery County??
re: Rhett Miller -- http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DLCLRE/Resources/Files/pdffiles/August2015Newslink.pdf at least shows the changes that were effective back in July.
I do find it interesting that the beer prices at DLC are not posted on the website currently, although I thought they did do that previously.
I know they brought down the prices of the off premise packages (bottles) but they still haven't done the same thing with kegs. For restaurants, there hasn't really been the same kind of relief. And I'm not sure how much relief they really did provide. While a 28% drop in price is a ton, it just shows you how much they were gouging people before. Without seeing a price list, I'd have to assume they're still charging more for craft beer cases than in DC or VA (or any other county in MD)
I am still wondering how Levethal and Co. seem to think that suggesting a dependency on liquor sales for the upgrading of our schools (a revenue which most states live without) is supposed to endear him/them to us at future voting booths.
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