washington liquor prices

[Tractorat]

I get to the liquor store maybe once or twice a year, so this doesn't really affect me. Last year we voted to get the state out of the liquor business (in wash, you had to buy liquor from a wash state liquor store, not a 7/11 like in ca) Costco, QFC, safeway, and other big retailers were behind it. One of the ways they pushed passage of the bill was to say that the state really jacks up the margins on liquor. So, if you want cheap liquor, vote to get the state out. Another motivation they gave was that new liquor taxes could be charged to help pay for additional law enforcement that might be needed because of increased liquor sales. Costco, etc, knew what the new taxes would be when they were trying to sell this to the public.



We've been hearing on the news that liquor prices will actually go up because of the new taxes and retail markup. On the news this morning, they said a bottle of liquor that is only $30 on the shelf would actually now be close to $40 when you figure in the new taxes (which are huge)



Like I say, I dont drink much, so I dont really care one way or the other. Under the old system, there were specific taxes that funded specific programs that will no longer get this funding. But who knows where the new taxes will actually go.



More fallout from this is that selection will be reduced. So, if there is a special liquor that you currently buy, you may not be able to get it anymore.



It will be interesting to see if prices just continue to go up now, or if they may come down somewhat. But I do think it is quite funny to see the folks who voted for this thinking they would pay less for liquor, and now have a nice surprise.



Once again, I dont drink much. So, I will not notice or monitor liquor prices. But if there are any tdr members in washington who buy liquor regularly, it would be interesting to hear their story on what they pay.



BTW, one of the arguments against getting the state out of the liquor business was that it would be much easier for kids to get liquor (shop lifting, etc). Well, this first day of retailers selling liquor has already had several instances of liquor shoplifting.

 

[AMink]

I know before the change a 1. 75 of Black Velvet was about $24 in Washington at the liquor store. The same bottle was about $12 in Reno. I'd be interested to see how much it is now.

 

[JJPage]

I do not care what you do as far as who gets to sell liquor in the state of washington, the majority of lefty's will find a way to tax it, and that's the problem.

As far as getting the State out of the liquor business... They should have opted for Agency's of the State to operate, like they do with most of the Auto Licensing agencies.

My wife manages an Auto Licensing Agency in Spokane, she is not a state employee and she does not receive state medical benefits of any kind, they are completely independent. A few years back the lefties tried to pass legislation that would have turned all these agencies over to complete state control, and all employees would have been tenured into state trooper/admin status with complete benefits. Now, as an individual my wife would have benefited greatly, as would I, however, that would have increased the taxes of every resident of this state.

Too many folks are only worried or concerned about their own situation and the heck with everyone one else. The situation that we are in now, is that there is one person pulling the wagon and three people setting in the wagon. What are you 'dependent', 'on the dole' residents (scumbagocuppywallstreetpukes), going to do when the rest of us stop pulling your wagon? I for one am leaving this state, basically for that reason, tax and spend, tax and spend, no end in sight.

 

[JJPage]

But I do think it is quite funny to see the folks who voted for this thinking they would pay less for liquor, and now have a nice surprise.



It is no surprise that the democrats would find a way to create a new tax, to increase the cost of liquor, are you serious? Are you really feeling funny? You dems are the ones who are in for a wakeup... . and a surprise!

 

[Tractorat]

You think Im a democrat ? You must be new. :-laf

I dont think any taxes went away. They used to be imbedded in the shelf price at the store. Now the bottles are labeled with a price that reflects the wholesale price plus markup. You dont see the taxes until you are rung up at the check stand.

BTW, they are certainly a majority of dems here in king county. But spokane has "blessed" us with lisa brown (?) who is, I believe, the dem majority leader in the legislature ? And is the one who sues every time Eyeman gets something passed.

 

[JJPage]

You think Im a democrat ? You must be new. :-laf

I dont think any taxes went away. They used to be imbedded in the shelf price at the store. Now the bottles are labeled with a price that reflects the wholesale price plus markup. You dont see the taxes until you are rung up at the check stand.

BTW, they are certainly a majority of dems here in king county. But spokane has "blessed" us with lisa brown (?) who is, I believe, the dem majority leader in the legislature ? And is the one who sues every time Eyeman gets something passed.

lisa brown, what a piece of work. I attended a managerial class at SCC with that idiot, you would not believe her train of thought. She was heckled and guffawed in class more than once.

I was not singling you out personally as a dem, I know there is hardly a worse name you could call someone. If that's how you read it, so be it. I should steer clear from these subjects, it could cause me a coronary... Cheers Tractorat!

Don't forget, the east side also produced patty murray...

Jess

 

[Tractorat]

Don't forget, the east side also produced patty murray.

I dont know where she was born. But, unfortunately for us, she grew up right here in my town of bothell. #@$%! As long as shes been in the senate, it really doesnt surprise me that there might be a tight race between inslee and McKenna. I think the dems would be guaranteed at least 45% of the vote here even if they ran a dead body.

 

[Dl5treez]

I don't buy the majority of my booze in-state. There are other ways, but I digress. .



... last night I purchased a bottle for $24. 99 shelf price at a store on a reservation. After tax at the register the price was $32. 84





Same bottle in December at same store the at-register price was $32. 00 even.



I've heard prices are varying widely depending on the region of purchase, ie Bellevue is more expensive than Chehalis.



I don't know. I voted no for the simple reason is after I read the initiative and saw the part about the surcharge taxes for LE and fire, I knew it was going to go up. It's a shame the amount of idiots in this state and how they've overrun the place...

 

[Tractorat]

I don't know. I voted no for the simple reason is after I read the initiative and saw the part about the surcharge taxes for LE and fire, I knew it was going to go up. It's a shame the amount of idiots in this state and how they've overrun the place...

I did the same. The whole thing sounded good up front. But when you realized what it really meant, it was a bad idea (for the customers).

 

[JJPage]

I did the same. The whole thing sounded good up front. But when you realized what it really meant, it was a bad idea (for the customers).

Yes, but Tractor, it was a double edged sword. If left the way it was, as stated earlier, like they were trying to do with auto licensing, the state was going to make the owners, cashiers, clerks, shelf stockers, and probably the janitorial crew, STATE EMPLOYEES WITH FULL BENEFITS INCLUDING A LIFELONG PENSION!!! That the rest of us could pay for with increased taxes.



That was why I voted for the new law, right or wrong, I believed it would curtail state government in yet another aspect of our lives, or at least send them a message... .



I am a Conservative, and PROUD TO BE A CONSERVATIVE! I am not willing to let bad laws, bad behavior, lack of morals, or any other intrusive government action continue, just because it may cost me more money to go against it. In fact, if it is a fact, I would pay more for liquor just to get the state out of it.



Kind of like the abortion argument, "it's cheaper to abort than to provide for a lifetime"... . I would provide rather than kill.



I'm getting a nose bleed... . better stop.

 

[Tractorat]

Yes, but Tractor, it was a double edged sword. If left the way it was, as stated earlier, like they were trying to do with auto licensing, the state was going to make the owners, cashiers, clerks, shelf stockers, and probably the janitorial crew, STATE EMPLOYEES WITH FULL BENEFITS INCLUDING A LIFELONG PENSION!!! That the rest of us could pay for with increased taxes.

You could be right, I dont know. Like I said, it was a non issue either way for me. The liquor stores paid for themselves and I really dont drink very much.



However, a friend of one of my kids worked for a wa state liquor store, and Im pretty sure she was a state employee. So now Im curious. Ill have to remember to ask.

 

[JJPage]

The liquor stores paid for themselves

The taxes imposed on the residents of wa, enabled the operators of liquor stores

to be exempt from B&O taxes, that the rest of the business world had to pay.



They had a subsidized advantage, and still wanted more. They did not pay for themselves.

 

[JJPage]

I voted no for the simple reason is after I read the initiative and saw the part about the surcharge taxes for LE and fire, I knew it was going to go up.

Next time, read and understand it's entirety... .



I know this is getting me in trouble.....

 

[Tractorat]

When I say that the liquor stores paid for themselves, I mean that they were fully funded thru operations. They were not subsidized by the gas tax or sales tax etc.



One relevant question is "should the state be in the liquor business" or any retail business for that matter. Probably not. But from the viewpoint of the consumer, if the state run liquor stores were providing liquor at a lower cost than what you will get from safeway, I would rather get it from the state store. I pay no more in taxes, the state is not encumbered by any additional cost, and my wallet is just a little fatter.



As I said, I rarely visit a liquor store. So for me, it is a moot point. But folks that buy a lot of liquor and voted to get the state out have had quite a surprise.

 

[JJPage]

They were not subsidized, But folks that buy a lot of liquor and voted to get the state out have had quite a surprise.

Tractor, I will respectfully disagree. By being exempt from taxation, they were subsidized.



I ask you, what is the surprise? Additional taxes on top of the purchase price, who is responsible for these additional taxes? democrats democrats democrats democrats democrats



You say you are not a dem, I will take you at your word, but you seem to support their agenda on this matter.



I do not drink hard liquor, really do not have a dog in the fight, and I am leaving this state of (cornholers)

 

[Tractorat]

You may be misunderstanding me. You and I are on the same page as far as the taxes go. The surprise to the voters was that prices didnt go down, they are going up. As far as the tax goes, the state of wash taxes booze. It doesnt matter whether the state collects it at a liquor store, or if a private retailer collects it for the state. The state collects the tax either way.



BTW, surely you realize that the dems had to vote this in. They are in the majority here.



And BTW, I dont support anybodies agenda here. I just think it is funny that this vote backfired. The people who would normally vote for a tax on anything thought that they could pull a fast one.



If they deleted the new taxes, I would vote for that.

 

[Tractorat]

Tractor, I will respectfully disagree. By being exempt from taxation, they were subsidized.

I gotta call you on that one. "Subsidized" is a term the dems use to say that oil companies are subsidized because they get certain tax deductions (just like any company)



The liquor stores did pay for themselves. Sure, they were unencumbered by taxation. But, they are not a private business that would be taxed. However, once again, no taxes that you and I pay (property tax, sales tax, gas tax, etc) is used to support the liquor stores. They were supported by and only by selling liquor to people who want to buy liquor.