[TheIglu]

"An Initiative Petition for a Law

This proposed law would allow local licensing authorities to issue licenses for food stores to sell wine. The proposed law defines a “food store” as a retail vendor, such as a grocery store, supermarket, shop, club, outlet, or warehouse-type seller, that sells food to consumers to be eaten elsewhere (which must include meat, poultry, dairy products, eggs, fresh fruit and produce, and other specified items), and that may sell other items usually found in grocery stores. Holders of licenses to sell wine at food stores could sell wine either on its own or together with any other items they sell.

The licensing authorities in any city or town of up to 5000 residents could issue up to 5 licenses for food stores to sell wine. In cities or towns of over 5000 residents, one additional license could be issued for each additional 5000 residents (or fraction of 5000). No person or business could hold more than 10% of the total number of the licenses that could be issued under the proposed law. Such licenses would not be counted when applying the laws that limit the number of other kinds of alcoholic beverage licenses that may be issued or held. Any applicant for a license would have to be approved by the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, and any individual applicant would have to be at least 21 years old and not have been convicted of a felony.

In issuing any licenses for food stores to sell wine, local licensing authorities would have to use the same procedures that apply to other licenses for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages. Except where the proposed law has different terms, the same laws that apply to issuance, renewal, suspension and termination of licenses for retail sales of alcoholic beverages which are not to be consumed on the seller’s premises, and that apply to the operations of holders of such licenses, would govern licenses to sell wine at food stores, and the operation of holders of such licenses. Local authorities could set fees for issuing and renewing such licenses."

That's it!

Hillman tried to compare it to Wal-Mart taking over Mom and Pop stores this morning on WAAF. And he said liquor store owners pay 5-10k for a license and then are able to sell them for 100k+ since they are so hard to come by. This will ruin that! And how is that supposed to make me feel bad about wanting to buy a bottle of wine with my food like in NH?

I didn't see him trying to ban chain liquor stores like Kappy's....he defended them as well. So what about the Mom and Pop store? Doesn't Kappy's hurt them as well? Oh, that doesn't count, right? Why not?

Besides, if alcohol outlets are so bad as the "Vote no on 1" people say, why wouldn't we want to limit the number of them? Lets get rid of liquor stores completely and have the groceries sell it! Or have the state run liquor stores like in NH! There are far fewer of those than liquor stores in MA. That would limit the outlets for our youth to kill themselves with alcohol! That's what the No compaign is all about, right?

Sorry, I'm against regulation therefore I will be voting yes on 1.

[rjh200]

Grocery stores that are near the NH border have been allowed to sell beer and wine for years now. MA is one of the only states that does not allow Gorcery stores to sell beer and wine. These people are just looking for something to complain about.

[TheIglu]

Originally posted by rjh200
Grocery stores that are near the NH border have been allowed to sell beer and wine for years now. MA is one of the only states that does not allow Gorcery stores to sell beer and wine. These people are just looking for something to complain about.

They are looking to preserve a 3 tier system of distribution that is legally mandated and only increases prices to consumers. It gives an unneccesary third hand in the pot.

Liquor stores don't want to have competition from grocery stores, warehouse style stores or anyone else.

[McBiggity]

the grocery stores near me already sell beer and wine.

[capt1014]

First I have no idea WHY you are listening to a largely hypocritical individual like him.

2nd, so what if grocery stores can sell wine, what is the comparasion of beer to wine sales in mass anyway? Mom and Pop shops I am assuming sell more beer to the "sports" fan than they do wine.

I have gone to my local "mom and pop" shop many times to buy beer and wine and seen alot of dust on the wine bottles, so what is really going to chane if the food stores are alowed to sell wine in MA?

[union]

Im all for selling alcohol in grocery stores. But dont be fooled. The prices wont come down there will just be more places to buy. It will be like Bestbuy and Circuit City. We all know its the same thing but according to them the tv at BB is the kvm-23 while the tv at CC is the kbm23. So they are completely different. Will it hurt the mom and pop stores? Ya some of them Im sure. Id be more pissed about the price I paid for the liscense though.

Even if this does pass it doesnt mean all grocery stores will have alcohol to sell. In the end its up to the town and they can deny the right to sell.

Also there are already stores that sell alcohol. The Star Market in Belmont is one of these stores. They have been selling well before I was in college because they were selling then so thats about 10years now.

[TheIglu]

I've been waking up to the Hillman Morning show since I was in high school. I don't know why though, he pisses me off to no end, especially that fake stutter. Perhaps tonight, for the first time in 10+ years, I'll set my alarm clock so I won't wake up pissed off.

[TheIglu]

Originally posted by capt1014
First I have no idea WHY you are listening to a largely hypocritical individual like him.

2nd, so what if grocery stores can sell wine, what is the comparasion of beer to wine sales in mass anyway? Mom and Pop shops I am assuming sell more beer to the "sports" fan than they do wine.

I have gone to my local "mom and pop" shop many times to buy beer and wine and seen alot of dust on the wine bottles, so what is really going to chane if the food stores are alowed to sell wine in MA?

You don't want to get into the beer issue. This question has nothing to do with beer. Also, being someone in the industry, I can't really have an opinion that isn't influenced by my paycheck.

[RSVMILLE661]

I can not stand the hillman morning show. He tries to be Hyper-masculine yet sounds like a poser in the end. I am forced to listen to that or Matty in the AM for a few minutes during my commute depending on where I coming from.

As for liquor in the supermarkets. Why not? NH does it. Maine does it. Its a complete pain in the ass to have to go to one place for food and another for a simple bottle of wine or rack of beer.

Crap, in Montana, you can buy hard liquor at the grocery store. Its awesome!

Since moving here to mass I have found that they have too many laws and try to over complicate the simplest of tasks.

Don't get me started on how a friend got a 250.00 ticket for "Failing to yield to a yellow light" It was green when she went through it and changed yellow above her. WTF!

[capt1014]

Originally posted by TheIglu
I've been waking up to the Hillman Morning show since I was in high school. I don't know why though, he pisses me off to no end, especially that fake stutter. Perhaps tonight, for the first time in 10+ years, I'll set my alarm clock so I won't wake up pissed off.

I used to listen to him but his arrogance really turn me off, try 101 gir, laura has big tits.

And why does it not have anything to do with beer, is beer not classified as alcoholic? Just asking don't know how the law classifies beer.

[ChR1s]

1. yes

2. no

3. no

[TheIglu]

Originally posted by capt1014
I used to listen to him but his arrogance really turn me off, try 101 gir, laura has big tits.

And why does it not have anything to do with beer, is beer not classified as alcoholic? Just asking don't know how the law classifies beer.

This law has nothing to do with beer. That's what I'm saying.

I find it funny and interesting that MADD has no official stance on this question. It's obvious that they aren't buying the whole "safety" reason to vote no on it either.

[bigred875]

hillman blows...has for awhile...which is unfortunate as I used to listen in HS up until recently too....O& A on 104.1 or imus 96.9 for me...17 as a last resort

Q 1 is all about money...those for it are want a piece of the pie...those against dont want to share....has nothing to do with the people concerns or saftey...not a penny of voters money was put up to support either side.....more beauracracy so teh rich get richer...

....in just about every other state in the union you can buy both beer and wine at conveince and groc stores...

[JeffL]

I voted yes. I liked the argument around this area that allowing liquor sales in a grocery store would increase the likelihood of drunk driving and underrage drinking. Please.

[TheIglu]

Hmmm, more young hot drunk chicks.....and me being of age to buy for them.....

Oh hell yes!

[a13x]

This Question 1 crap is stupid. All the Vote No on 1 arguments were scare tactics and that pissed me off.

3 MA grocery stores per chain can already sell wine. Just 3. The Hannafords in Quincy sells it. Stupid old law. I can't believe so much money and time was spent on a, IMO, non-issue.



CRIME WILL GO UP
DRUNK DRIVING WILL GO UP
KIDS WILL BUY IT


How many broke-ass crooks, kids, or fratboys buy WINE to get hammered. Exactly.

[neuthunder]

c'mon MD 20/20 is wine and that'll get ya fucked up

[TheIglu]

Q1 didn't pass.

Hooray for monopolistic business practices!