I-1183: No liquor for Mom & Pop!

Most neighborhood Mom & Pop wine and beer stores are too small and too near grocery chains to sell liquor, according to Washington Initiative 1183 .

Beer drinkers know top-notch breweries like Rogue Ales and Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales are getting into distilled products. And they’re asking their local shopkeepers for these spirits.

However under current law, only state-run and stores contracted with the state can carry liquor.

Will I-1183 allow these local businesses to offer a few shelves of spirits? No.

I-1183 prevents neighborhood wine and beer shops from carrying liquor.

Initiative 1183 specific language that excludes most metropolitan and suburban shops from carrying liquor simply due to the size of their store and availability of liquor at nearby larger businesses.

Stores, like 99 Bottles, are excluded from carrying full portfolios, limited only to beer, cider and wine offerings. The shop is 8,655 square feet too small to qualify to sell liquor, according to I-1183.

Why the 10,000 square foot store size requirement to sell liquor under I-1183? Does a smaller store makes a business more irresponsible? Are they afraid of a little competition from smaller shops?

Why the exclusion?

Don’t exclude your local Mom & Pop shops; cast a vote against I-1183.

I’m for privatization of liquor, but I’m voting No on I-1183. I’m a small business owner. I’m for small business. I’m for the entrepreneurs. I’m for the community. I’m telling Costco No because I want laws that don’t just benefit big business.