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| Post Number: 1
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iowegian
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2004,2:25 pm |
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Proposal would allow grocers to sell wine Jan 24 Trib
....The organization also cites a survey conducted by St. Cloud State University that states "59 percent of Minnesotans favor wine sales in grocery stores."
Rep. Dan Dorman, R-Albert Lea, and Sen. Dan Sparks, R-Austin, did not support it during previous legislative sessions, and they are still hesitant.
"Typically, I have not supported it," Dorman said, citing a lack of local interest.
"I don't hear the outcry," he said. "I think the number of people that have asked, 'Hey would you pass this?' is one."
Sparks agreed.
"I opposed it last year," he said, He was concerned about municipal liquor stores.
Its a nice convenience to pick up some wine with food at Northwood's Fallgatter's Grocery. Iowa seems to have more common sense.
We get by just fine with our fire dept, (all volunteer no tax dollars all donations) our Courthouse and county and city elected officals. Please keep your mess north of the border but keep sending businesses and come visit us when we get our new Casino.
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| Post Number: 2
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exxtreme one
Unregistered
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2004,2:30 pm |
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Already got out foot in the door, thanks.
---The Bishops
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| Post Number: 3
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Nose for News
Unregistered
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2004,10:57 am |
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How will Dorman and Sparks Vote this time ?
Some like wine legislation; others don't
By Benjamin Dipman, Tribune staff writer
Opinions about a piece of legislation that would put wine on the shelves of grocery stores are not divided down party lines. Instead, they're divided along business lines.
Grocery store owners seem in favor of it, while liquor store owners appear opposed.
The proposed legislation, called Wine With Dinner, promises guarantees from grocery stores in exchange for permission to sell wine. Using liquor license money, grocery stores would train employees, card all sales and maintain or create theft prevention devices.
The idea, according to its sponsor, the Minnesota Grocers Association, is that wine is normally consumed with food, and customers desire the convenience of purchasing wine with food products.
If passed, the new law would affect grocery stores that are greater than 10,000 square feet. In Albert Lea that includes HyVee, Wal-Mart and Nelson's County Market.
Jay Nelson, owner of Nelson's County Market, though he has not heard of the legislation, said he would support it.
But he added, "I don't think the chances of it passing are very good. There are so many independent liquor stores out there and it would take away from their business."
Wal-Mart Manager Alan Suitts would also support it. He is not concerned with liquor stores because he sees wine sold in a grocery stores as an "add-on item."
"If (customers) are looking for a particular wine, they will go to a liquor store. Grocery stores will never be a destination for wine."
Liquor store operators disagree.
Kevin Beseman, owner of Southtown Liquors said if wine were available in grocery stores, it would "definitely" hurt his business.
Saying grocery stores are able to sell wine "at cost," customers might buy from a grocery store instead of a liquor store.
Beseman was also worried about future legislation should Wine With Dinner pass.
"They're trying to use this at a doorstep to get beer in the stores," he said.
Fountain Warehouse Liquor owner Ron Freeman is also against the proposal for two reasons.
First, he thinks it would be difficult for grocery store managers to deter staff from selling to minors, because of the large number of employees in the stores. Regardless of the MGA's promises of enforcement, Freeman said his experience shows it's hard enough to supervise a small group of employees.
The second reason for his opposition is the effect on his business.
"It hurts small retailers," he said. "It takes the little guy out of the business."
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| Post Number: 4
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Vicki
Unregistered
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2004,11:13 am |
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I would hope that Rep. Dorman and Senator Sparks will continue to fight for the small business operator. Selling wine in the grocery store will make it easier for kids to get ahold of alcohol. At night that is all I usually see working in a grocery store. The big guys will sell at cost till everyone else is gone. Then lookout.
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| Post Number: 5
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hoosier 
Group: Members
Posts: 1476
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2004,11:13 am |
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This is one of many things that Minnesota is way behind the times on. It is allowed in 36 other states with no problem. The guy at Warehouse liq. is worried about it taking away from his business? You bet he is, its called competition. Who does competition help? The consumer, me and you. You know you already pay inflated prices for beer and liq. anyway. There is no competition in the wholesale business either. Local liq. stores and bars cannot shop around the state for the best price, the wholesalers have a monopoly on the business in their area. Its not this way in Indiana. I drove truck for a beer distributor, we delivered in all 93 counties of the state. In other words, if that was the way it was here, Southtown Liq. could order its beer from a company in the cities if he could get it cheaper. He gets it cheaper, you get it cheaper.
Why are the politicians like Dorman and Sparks against competition like this? Because they are getting donations from this industry to keep things just as they are. Everyone comes out smellin like roses. That is everyone but the consumer. 
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The power of accurate obsvervation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw
The devil begins with froth on the lips of an angel entering into battle for a holy and just cause. Grigory Pomerants
We have crossed the boundary that lies between Republic and Empire. Garet Garrett
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| Post Number: 6
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Guest
Unregistered
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2004,11:40 am |
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So now you want cheap booze. Will you sell it to kids too. The social costs are of no concern to you. You are one clueless SOB not to mention a Twit!!! 
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| Post Number: 7
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Tiger
Group: Members
Posts: 606
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2004,12:14 pm |
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Everyone wants things cheaper than what they pay for them now. Common sense!! Get a clue Guest.
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| Post Number: 8
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iowegian
Unregistered
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2004,12:25 pm |
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We don't have children staggering though our streets in Northwood every night. Yet we continue to sell wine and beer in our grocery store.
Guest's head in the sand thinking is one of the reasons for MN higher taxes .
Keep your strict laws north of the border and keep sending business and businesses, we love it.
Go Vikings (Northwood that is)
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| Post Number: 9
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minnow
Group: Members
Posts: 2243
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2004,12:58 pm |
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Iowa is exactly right and right on target. It's always...pass bad laws to protect the children...LOL 
Leave the children out of your BS!
"I would hope that Rep. Dorman and Senator Sparks will continue to fight for the small business operator. Selling wine in the grocery store will make it easier for kids to get ahold of alcohol. At night that is all I usually see working in a grocery store. The big guys will sell at cost till everyone else is gone. Then lookout."
----->Don't you see? It's not the function of government to control markets. That's the function of consumers.
In Europe alcohol isn't abused like here because they aren't so anal...figure it out... 
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| Post Number: 10
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Guest
Unregistered
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2004,1:06 pm |
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Like your economy is booming in Northwood. You want a casino to strip the last of the few remaining dollars in your town. You have no kids. They graduate and leave for the Twin Cities not Des Moines. I am sure a majority of the posters here do not own businesses and are regular Wal-Mart customers. That's OK not everyone is a Rockefeller but most are clueless how our economy and government work.
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