Consumer Confusion

(and thats just the beer distributors)

Consumer Confusion

Days after a marathon debate on liquor privatization 2.0, the Philadelphia Inquirer included an editorial quoting some of my floor remarks, while I am flattered they were paying such close attention, I’m concerned about the “facts” they used to reach their conclusions, after all I’m sure the paper has nothing to gain from private liquor sales (clearing my throat) so why would they ignore history or mislead their readers?

While I wait for them to print my response countering their claims, here are some details of the plan that passed in the state House based off my floor comments and focused on the claims of improved consumer convenience.

The GOP claims liquor privatization is all about consumer convenience, but based on my calculations there are at least 20 different configurations of licenses possible under their plan. Depending on what you want and when determines where you should go…  How does this make things less confusing for consumers?

1.      Beer Distributor (D) – sells cases of beer

2.      Beer Distributor (D) – sells cases of beer and unlimited wine

3.      Beer Distributor (D)  - sells cases of beer and unlimited wine and unlimited spirits

4.      Beer Distributor (D)  - sells cases of beer  and unlimited  spirits

5.      Beer Distributor (D)  - sells down to a six pack of beer

6.      Beer Distributor (D)  - sells down to a six pack of beer, and unlimited wine

7.      Beer Distributor (D)  - sells down to a six pack of beer, unlimited wine and  unlimited spirits

8.      Beer Distributor (D)  - sells down to a six pack of beer,  unlimited spirits

9.      Restaurants/Hotel (R ) – sell 2 six packs of beer to go  and opened bottle of spirits and open bottles of wine

10.  Restaurants/Hotel (R ) – sell 2 six packs of beer to go and 4 bottles of sealed wine and open bottles of spirits

11.  Restaurant/Hotel (R)  - sell up to 4 six packs of beer and open bottle of  spirits and open bottles of wine

12.  Restaurant/Hotel (R)  - sell up to 4 six packs of beer and 4 bottles of sealed wine and open bottles of  spirits to go

13.  Grocery Store – 12 bottles of wine

14.  Grocery Store with a café  (R ) – 2 six packs of beer, unsealed/open wine and unsealed/ open bottles of spirits

15.  Grocery Store with a café (R ) – 4 six packs of beer, and unsealed/open wine and spirits

16.  Grocery Store with an R license and a Grocery Store license -  2 six packs of beer, unsealed/open wine and spirits to go and 12 bottles wine

17.  Grocery store with an R license and a Grocery Store license – 4 six packs of beer and 12 bottles wine, open wine and spirits to go

18.  Wine and Spirit Retailers – unlimited Wine only

19.  Wine and Spirit Retailers – unlimited Wine and unlimited  Spirits

20.  Wine and Spirit Retailers  - unlimited Spirits only

In other words under the plan there would be:
 

Ø  8 possible license configurations for beer distributors

Ø  4 possible license configurations for restaurants and hotels

Ø  5 possible license configurations for grocery stores

Ø  3 possible license configurations for wine and spirits retailers.

WAIT there’s MOre:

Since this plan is intended to make things less complicated for consumer…

Q. What are the hours of operations for a wine and spirit store Monday through Saturday?  How about on Sunday?

Answer. 9 a.m. -11 p.m. Monday - Saturday

                    9 a.m. – 9 p.m. if have Sunday permit
                    No Sunday permit 11 a.m. -9 p.m.

 Q. What about a beer distributor

Answer. 24 hours, Monday through Saturday

                     Sunday without permit 9 a.m.  - 9 p.m.

 Q. What about a beer distributor that sells wine and spirits?

Answer: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday - Saturday

                     Sunday no permit 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
                    Sunday with permit 9 a.m. -11 p.m. but can’t be 24 hours

 Q. What about a grocery store?

      Answer. 7 a.m. -11 p.m. Monday through Saturday

                     Sunday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. with permit

 Q. What if I go into a Grocery store that has an R license and I want to buy a bottle of wine?

Answer: 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday

                      Sunday without permit 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.
                      Sunday with permit 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.

What is the age of employment for the various licenses?

• Wine and Spirit Retail Establishment -21 years old
• Grocery Store with Unlimited Wine – 18 years old
• Restaurant or Bar -18 years old
• Beer Distributor- 18 years old
• Beer Distributor that sells unlimited wine - 21 years old (*note difference with grocery store*)
• Beer Distributor that sells wine and spirits - 21years old