Gov. Scott, tear down that liquor wall
Gov. Rick Scott isweighing whether to sign a bill thatwould lift Florida’s Prohibition-era ban on selling liquor alongside beer and wine at grocery stores.
By today, the governor must decide whether to veto the “Whiskey and Wheaties” bill, sign it into lawor let it become law without his signature.
We encourage Gov. Scott to sign Senate Bill 106 and put an end to the outdated “liquorwall” regulation. In making his decision, he should be guided by free market principles, doing what’s best for consumers and ending needless government regulations.
Other than protecting certain businesses, what sense does it make to allow beer and wine sales in a grocery store, but force people to go next door to buy a bottle of spirits?
You can understand the concerns of independent liquor store owners, who fear new competition from big-box stores will put them out of business. We’re not unsympathetic to their plight. It reminds us of the fight taxi driverswaged to try to keep Uber fromdisrupting their businesses. But consumerswanted change and lawmakers listened.
The other concern comes fromchain stores like Publix, which have already built standalone liquor stores at some locations. Their lobbyists say tearing down the “liquorwall” will give minors easier access to alcohol. It’s the same argumentwe heard some years back when retailers tried to preserve the ban that prevented you fromshipping yourself a case of wine. They said a child might answer the door and imbibe.
If this bill becomes law, Floridawould become the 28th state to let retailers sell hard liquor alongside beer and wine. Surely Florida retailers can learn fromthe experience elsewhere.
In California, for example, independent liquor stores have focused on higher-end items and a greater selection than what can be found on grocery shelves. Neither has the Golden State reported an uptick in minors stealing alcohol.
Besides, is it good public policy to keep an outdated regulation because a child might shoplift?
The “Whiskey and Wheaties” bill has been controversial from the start. It passed the Senate, 21-17, and the House by a single vote. Three House members voted “no” after the roll callwas recorded, but theywere too late to make a difference.
It’s a sad commentary that with somany crucial issues facing Florida, the “liquor wall” became one of the session’s most hotly-contested issues.
Large retail outlets, includingWal-Mart, Target and Costco, are behind the push. Yes, itwould benefit them. But it alsowould benefit consumers.
To ease the pain, the bill calls for a phase-in period. Big-box stores couldn’t add hard liquor before next year. And then, they can only add it to a quarter of their stores. reaching total phase-in by 2021.
The bill also prohibits new package stores from being licensed within 1,000 feet of schools. And it requires mini-liquor bottles to be displayed behind the counter to deter theft. And it requires that for alcohol transactions, adults must supervise checkout clerks younger than18.
Most gas stations alsowould be banned from selling spirits, with an exception granted to those with more than10,000 square feet of retail space.
SB106 gets it right and gives consumers more choice. It deserves to become law.
Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its members or a designee. The Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Rosemary O’Hara, AndrewAbramson, Elana Simms, Gary Stein and Editor-in-ChiefHoward Saltz.
In making his decision, [Scott] should be guided by free market principles, doing what’s best for consumers and ending needless government regulations.