The state Legislature is expected to argue Washington's somewhat archaic three-tiered system for distributing beer and wine when it convenes Monday, Jan. 12. One of the key points in the current law surely to be contested is the prevention of quantity discounts. That means wholesalers like Costco cannot use its enormous buying power to sell beer and wine for much less than any other retailer or wholesaler.
The idea behind that is to prevent consumers from overdoing it. Not to mention the peripheral risk involved in dropping prices of alcohol: A plausible increase in DUIs and injury/fatality accidents; a plausible increase in alcohol-fueled domestic violence; a plausible increase in crime; a plausible increase in medical cases filling emergency rooms.
Similar to its stance on cigarettes, the state plays mother hen to us all with alcohol, too. Many of the rules associated with the distribution and sale of alcohol in this state have the surface intention of keeping our citizens safe from physical harm and preventing unsavory business people from strong-arming retailers into doing their bidding.
So, in this case it can be argued a little mother-hen action by the state serves the greater good. By the way, Washington is one of 19 states in the country to control liquor operations.
However good the current law's restrictive intentions may be, they teach us nothing. We would like to see some enhanced language about personal responsibility written into any bill legislators sign, and an increase in alcohol awareness programs. We've seen, with the inelegant swan dive our economy has taken, the havoc the lack of personal responsibility and accountability can engender.
Accountability needs to be focused squarely where it belongs: in this case, on the consumer. The state, in its debate, needs to remember that. Even a good mother hen can do only so much.[[In-content Ad]]
