Senate Bill 33, signed by Gov. Jared Polis last Thursday (Herald, Apr. 11), will provide a lifeline to independent liquor stores in Colorado by preventing any more of the largest grocery and big box stores from selling hard liquor. If a store has a pharmacy, it will not be able to expand beyond wine and full-strength beer to sell hard liquor, a prohibition that was set to change in 2037. Thirty-six stores have that right now.
Independent liquor stores were hard hit when voters approved wine sales in grocery and big box stores in November 2022, on the heels of a 2019 law that allowed full-strength beer to be sold in addition to 3.2 beer (remember that?). Greater market dominance by the largest stores would have occurred without the Legislature’s and, reluctantly, the governor's action last week.
By a vote of 55-8 in the House and 28-5 in the Senate, the General Assembly came out with both chamber’s majorities in support of small independent business. That is great to see.
Convenience was the argument in the 2022 election result, while independent stores said that losing the unique ability to sell low- and mid-level grade wines would reduce their revenue and create financial stress. Independents said that higher end, popular specialty wines they offer, and know well, were insufficient to cover costs. The independent stores’ fears were correct, and many closed after the voters’ decision went into effect in March 2023.
A free-marketeer, though Polis admitted that small, independently run liquor stores may have felt a pinch in recent years, he did not support a permanent freeze on allowing grocery and box stores to sell hard liquor saying, “A permanent freeze puts the state government in the position of picking winners and losers.”
It did and does. Legislature- and citizen-initiated policies do it all the time. This time the tables are tipping back a bit in favor of small business. Predictably, Amazon, Albertsons King Soopers, Safeway, Target and Walmart opposed the measure.
Everyone likes lower prices, especially today, but when you know your purchase supports a locally owned independent business, employs local people, and keeps dollars local at a marginal increase that feels good and is worth the extra investment.
We appreciate efficiencies, but there are times when defending small business takes precedence. This is one of those times. Thanks to the Legislature and the governor for looking out for mom and pop.
