Legislative battle brews as package stores oppose Viola's plan

By J.L. MILLER and DANIELLE VICKERY • The News Journal • June 5, 2009

DOVER -- In what would be a dramatic change to the package-store system that has remained almost unchanged since the end of Prohibition, Delawareans who want to pick up a bottle of Bordeaux to accompany their roast beef dinner will be able to get both at the same store if legislation introduced Thursday becomes law.

"Forty-five states and the District of Columbia allow at least beer and wine sales in their grocery stores, and I think it's time Delaware came into the 21st century," said Rep. John J. Viola, D-Newark, the bill's sponsor.

Join other Delawareans talking about this story on TalkDelaware.com

The bill has the potential to raise $10 million in its first year through the new class of alcohol license it would create -- a license with a one-time fee of $100,000 per store. There would be a biennial renewal fee of $5,000.

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I'm sure liquor store owners aren't happy about this.

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Chlorine is my perfume. ~Author Unknown

Is it necessary? What grocery store in this state doesn't have a liquor store right next door to it?

Sweet!!
That was one GREAT thing when I went out to California... Needed hamburgers, rolls, beer and Gin.. (My dad drinks that ish, not me...) Got it all in one stop..

Beautiful thing.....

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I'm all for convenience, but I really don't find it that hard to go to the liquor store. And I happen to like the folks that work in and run my favorite package places. I don't see how this could do anything but hurt those businesses.

I'd vote against this for just that reason.

It's not like we have state ABC stores that you have to go to in order to get liquor. Or like there's not a liquor store every 2 miles in this state.

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I sorta like how convenient private liquor stores are in DE. Sure beats the State Stores in PA!

And of course, we're the first ones in to comment on this... Kid, Scrap, Tracy and me.

Color me shocked.

*staggers away*
*curses hangover*

But what suprises me is that you guys are against it...

Alcohol made more convenient for us alcohol lovers!!!

*tear in eye*

I spent many an hour, as a little girl, hanging out behind the counter of a local liquor store... My heart will always be for the store-owners, bro. Always.

Is it just me being tight or is the one-time license fee awfully high at $100,000 per store ?

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No good deed goes unpunished

I could honestly care less either way... As long as it is available when it's needed, I'm a happy little boy......

You should've seen me when it became available on Sunday's.....

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They'll more than make up for it..

They will JACK prices because of convenience.......

We've moved around quite a bit, and every state has had some peculiar rules regarding alcohol.
Colorado - no liquor sales on Sundays. Grocery stores can sell 3.2 beer.
North Carolina - ABC stores. Unmarked, inconvenient, and limited hours. They sold the hard stuff; you could get the wine and beer at the grocery store. Still quite a few dry counties down there. And there aren't regular bars - there are clubs where you have to buy a membership to drink there. And their drinks are all portioned from those little airplane liquor bottles. REtarded.
Missouri - everything in the liquor store! Beautiful thing.
Maryland - private liquor stores.
Utah - Kegs are illegal.

I love our local liquor store (mad props to Branmar Liquors!!!), so I agree that I wouldn't want to see them lose business.

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I'm gettin' hard on myself, sitting in my easy chair.

It just might do away with the curry air fresheners in the local New Castle stores..... You won't hear me complain one bit...

It's not mandatory for the owners and employees of these local liquor stores, but common courtesy, to say "Thank you" or "Have a nice day" not almost throw your money back at you and shove your alcohol toward you and say "Next" also, the way I see it is, the cost might go down if it's sold in more places other than just liquor stores...
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i have 2 LQ stores in a closer proximity to me then a grocery store (probably more) and i happen to like going in and talking to the guy in the one, i tend to agree with Kid and others, not necessary...

Zip i like the guy next to citgo on Moore's lane (it does smell in there though) i never go to the one toward swanwyck

I would vote for it,makes less stops after work, what would be nice if liquor stores had Brew thrus, now that be awesome..

He just loves you and Sugr!

Everybody's for small business, until something comes along that will save them 5 cents or 2 minutes.

$100,000 for the initial license?

What's that gonna do to the small grocers? And if they don't participate, they lose business to the big chains that can easily afford it. And the mom and pop liquor stores, like Witchy says. Employing 5 to 10 people who need those jobs everywhere across the state.

I understand, in places like VA and NC and SC...where you have to find a state ABC store to get liquor only, that it makes sense to allow grocers to retail beer and wine. That shit's a pain in the ass. They're 10's of miles apart, and hardly ever open...ridiculous.

I don't know how much more convenient it can be than being able to buy all alcoholic beverages at the same place/same time, like we already have.

I'm not gonna lose sleep if this passes, but I think it's bad and unnecessary legislation, and I'd vote against it if it was up to me.