Bill To Expand Spirits And Wine To Groceries In Colorado Passes Legislature, But Governor Is Undecided
It’s a battle that has been going on for two decades among grocery stores, liquor stores and the craft beer industry.Now, a plan to put full-strength beer in Colorado grocery stores is heading to the governor`s desk
Colorado House passed a bill on Wednesday to allow grocery stores to buy liquor licenses and sell full strength beer and wine. If the bill becomes a state law, you may be able to pick up your favorite IPA or Merlot while shopping for groceries.
But, you will likely have to wait a few years before anything besides the weaker 3.2 percent beer is available at your local grocery store.
According to the new law, each grocery store chain can tap into 20 licenses by 2037. But there is a catch. Grocers have to buy two existing liquor licenses in their area and turn them into license for the store. And, they would also have to buy any liquor licenses within 1,500 feet of the grocery stores. If they cannot, the grocer is out of luck. Grocery shops will be able to apply for an unlimited number of licenses after 2037.
While many liquor store owners and craft breweries opposed the legislation, some say the compromises within the bill give them a chance to adjust to the new competition.
`It made me a little bit nervous because, obviously, we don`t want to see grocery stores get full strength, but it was a decent compromise,` said Brandi Pollock, the owner of Fisher`s Liquor Barn. `With a little give and take, I feel confident that it will work out OK over the years.`
Some of the compromises include prohibitions on grocers selling alcohol below market value or storing alcohol in locations besides the licensed premise.
Some customers said they are thrilled to see full strength brews and wine make their way into major grocery chains.
`I used to live in California and you could buy hard alcohol, wine and beer in the grocery store,` said Sherri Barnes. `It was just very convenient because it was one-stop shopping.`
Pollock said there are 1,600 liquor stores in Colorado. She said if the original legislature passed, there would be about 295 liquor stores left in the state within 5 years. However, with the compromises on the new bill, she is not sure what the impact will be.
Governor Hickenlooper is not yet ready to sign off on the bill. A spokeswoman said he wants to first evaluate the economic impacts of changing the liquor laws.
