Comments

1
If this turns into a tax-protester kind of a thing I'm going to scream. SHUT UP AND PAY YOUR GODDAMN TAX.

What this actually is about is a horribly distorted market that is just taking the first steps toward freedom. Costco is not an agent of freedom, though; they are an agent of pillaging our state, having put into play the second part of their two-pronged strategy of eliminating both competing stores and competing distributors.

Costco shouldn't be allowed to sell to other retail outlets, bars or restaurants AT ALL.
2
"The clash of the middlemen continues. (Any former initiative supporters out there feeling voters' remorse?)"

Nope. I knew it was just a first step and a rather imperfect one at that. Despite having the opportunity, the leg, as usual, was too cowardly to take action. So here we are.

Next step is to get rid of the stupid ass distribution system.
3
@1 Retail outlets, bars, or restaurants should be free to buy from whomever the fuck they want. Costco, straight from the brewery, at QFC, the internet, wherever. What business of the state is it where a bar wants to buy their booze?
4
Every time a wrinkle occurs in the wake of this initiative, someone simply has to bring up "voter's remorse" in a smarmy told-ya-so tone. This so exasperates me that I go downstairs and step outside to purchase a fifth of liquor, now available TWENTY FEET FROM MY DOOR OR FROM WHEREVER I HAPPEN TO BE, USUALLY.

I'm good. Thanks.
5
This was a deeply flawed initiative, and I actually voted against it, even though I'm generally opposed to the state liquor monopoly. But it is passed and there is no going back. Messy as it is, I'm glad it is done. I fully expect the unraveling of the state liquor monopoly will be messy and ongoing for years to come. The legislature will have to get involved at some point and fix some of the unintended consequences of the initiative. And I'm okay with that.
6
I have an idea that will make everyone happy:

The state government can run liquor retail and distribution, thereby keeping costs low, and revenue up, and keep lobbyists like Costco from trying to bend the rules.

Why hasn't anyone thought of this yet?
7
@3: Retail outlets, bars, or restaurants should feel free to buy 24 liters from Costco in a pinch.

But Costco should not feel free to dump all of the "revenue-neutral" taxation in everyone else's lap and then end-run around paying one fucking dime of it.

This cavalcade of dick moves on Costco's part has ensured that I will never shop there again.
8
That reminds me. I need to go to Costco. We're running low on cat litter and tequila.
9
@8 for the win.
10
In the end don't we have to keep faith with the wise WSLCB? Haven't they always decided what was best for us?

It's like Papal Infallibility, but for booze.
11
To all the Costco defenders: Why do you think there was "24 liter limit" language in the initiative in the first place, if not to imply that Costco wouldn't engage in mass-distribution activities?

"24 liters per minute" would not be a limit at all, and therefore would violate both the letter and the spirit of what is now the law.

Remember that all licensed booze distributors (of which Costco is not one) will be required to make up what remains of a $150-million shortfall come early next year. If Costco eats into their business (and thus into their 10% distributor's taxes), the 2013 lump-sum payment will be larger, and will be reflected in prices at all non-Costco retailers. Expect prices to rise even more than they have already if Costco wins this suit.
12
Nope, no buyer's remorse here. We just have to remove more of the Prohibition remnants and reduce liquor taxes.
13
How does one not know the interpretation is 24L per week, fortnight, month, or year? Just as arbitrary as day. Whatevs.
14
The WSLCB is finally getting what's been coming to them for decades. They're an unaccountable, 3 person board that controls a billion dollar industry, preemptively stifling competition and innovation. Costco repeatedly petitioned to have the byzantine liquor distribution laws changed, but the WSLCB sided with their patrons SWS & YMC (who undoubtedly pay to play) and told Costco to pound sand. They pounded pavement instead, and are in the middle of the campaign to at last rid the state of the old bootlegger system we've had for nearly 80 years. Good riddance to rigged enterprise!
15
Much as I would love to see the distribution system dismantled, most folks are missing a point here. Distributors, specific distributors, are an efficient manner of doing business from the perspective of the booze manufacturers. It helps them maintain their profits. Plus that's how they operate in 49 other states - many with the same distributors in all of those 49 other states. Costco has approached the major manufacturers and asked to buy booze direct from them under the new law and they've been told to suck eggs. Which means that Costco has to purchase their name brands from the major distributors and are not going to beat the prices when selling to restaurants and bars. This is all grandstanding. And the president of the restaurant/bar association knows this. He's just trying to cover his ass to his angry (rightfully so) constituents who thought (because he sold the idea) that they were going to see significant savings. Costco should just agree to pay their damn distribution tax that they were too clever by half in trying to avoid (and they should stop watering down their damn Macallan Scotch and trying to sell it as the real stuff).
16
For as much money as Costco spent on this initiative their liquor selection is ridiculously weak and their prices too high to attract the restuarant owner customer base.
17
It will take a few more initiatives to get things right.

One thing I noticed is that I don't buy beer anymore. I wonder if the brewers are seeing a revenue drop.
18
One thing I noticed is that I'm buying more beer, because the liquor prices are so fucking high. I wonder if the brewers are seeing a revenue surge.

Please wait...

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