WA State Government Should Sell Liquor Stores – Business Leaders

Two concerned business leaders are calling for the state of Washington to get out of the liquor-outlet business. They cite several reasons, including a state study that shows privatizing liquor sales would result in as much as $244 million in revenue

To save money and end an inherent conflict of interest, the state of Washington should get out of the liquor-retailing business, according to two business leaders in an op-ed column.

Ken Oplinger, who is President/CEO of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Tom Pierson, CEO of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce, co-authored a thoughtful op-ed column in a Tacoma newspaper, The News Tribune, Sunday, March 14, 2010.

Their collaboration is entitled, "Need Revenue? Sell Our Liquor Stores."

Their column cites a host of factors: "A government’s priorities can best be measured by where it spends its money," wrote the authors. "This year, Washington State will spend more than $117 million marketing and selling alcohol."

However, they point out the state’s mass-selling of liquor conflicts with the mission statement of the Washington State Liquor Control Board to educate the public about liquor consumption and to enforce liquor laws.

The chamber executives point out that many Washingtonians – businesses and workers – have been forced

to cut back in their budgets. But they are worried about the spiraling levels of state-government spending and the prospect of tax increases.

For their entire analysis, see: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/14/1108982/privatizing-liquor-sales-will.html

The Web address for the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry: http://www.bellingham.com

To visit the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce online: http://www.federalwaychamber.com

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Category Business, Government, Finance

Tags liquor control, government spending, chamber of commerce, state budget, Business

Comments

[Jeff Gordon Parker]

I agree completely that WA should sell its liquor stores to privatize what should be a privatize industry, the retail of liqueur.

We are wasting money on the stores and advertising...

We should allow the spirits to be sold in stores with licenses and the tax revenue will be greater because no expense will be made in managing and running the retail stores...

Also, more money will go into the community to fuel the economy when new private sales of liquor will increase revenues for stores around WA State...

Why the state of Washington has not thought of this yet is beyond me...