Liquor store managers wonder about future
MOSES LAKE - More than 100 state contract liquor store managers from Eastern Washington packed the Moses Lake Event Center Tuesday to learn more about Initiative 1183's affects on their operations.
Washington state voters approved the initiative earlier this month, which privatizes liquor sales.
Kevin Danby's wife Susan Danby is the state contract liquor store manager for the Ephrata liquor store, a role she's held for almost eight years.
The Moses Lake liquor store was completely state-run, Kevin Danby explained.
Before the meeting, Kevin Danby said one of his concerns included a 10 percent distributor tax included with I-1183.
By March 31, 2013, the state must collect $150 million from the distributors based on their sales. The state asks distributors to make up the difference if the full amount isn't collected, Kevin Danby said.
"Clearly, we would like a level playing field," he commented. "Obviously we can't have the buying power of Costco."
Rick Garza, deputy director of the state Liquor Control Board, described Tuesday's meeting as fact finding for the agency and a way to field questions.
The meeting was not open to the public.
Agency officials are working to gain understanding from contract store managers on what they're missing or issues they need to be aware of.
The state board holds a formal, public rule-making process in Olympia at a later date. Rule-making guides state agencies when carrying out laws.
"We're going to do everything we can under the law to help them," Garza said.
When asked how many contract stores were closing, Garza said he thinks it was part of the reason agency officials met with the managers.
"They have a decision to make in the next few months if it will happen or not," Garza said.
Preliminarily, many or most of the managers want to stay open, he said.
One of the most important pieces of the issue is grandfathering contract stores to remain in business because they're below the 10,000-square-foot requirement.
Garza said he knows they want to do everything they can to ensure continuity and a future to the business.
The managers are wanting help in making the transition to a new spirit board license.
Brian Smith, a spokesperson with the board, said the contract liquor store managers are an important part of their system.
They have many questions about what the initiative means to them. Other meetings were held in Spokane and Olympia.
More information is posted online as it becomes available, at liq.wa.gov/transition/transition-information.
I-1183 licenses private parties to sell and distribute hard liquor, sets license fees based on sales and changes regulation of wine distribution.
The initiative's proponents contend the state ran an "outdated liquor store monopoly," only allowing a limited number of grocery and retail stores to obtain licenses to sell liquor, according to the state Voter's Guide.
People against the initiative claim its possible for four times as many liquor outlets in state.
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