Having resided in cities where alcoholic beverages are sold in a wide
variety of settings - in Michigan: drug stores and so-called party stores (a
little like our SA's and resident groceries that serve nothing but fats) -
hard booze is sold every day, every night until ten in all these places -
it's hard to discern the direct effects of alcohol availability and the
disasters alcohol abuse wreak in our lives.
When pressed, I would presume that there is, in fact, a link. As in: I
believe the creation and expansion of legal gambling in Minnesota has
created a whole new generation of addicts that embezzle funds, steal their
children's college money and other seedy behaviors in the deluded notion
that just one more try will get the big score and pay off their debts as
well. Never happens. It will be over my cold dead corpse that we expand
gambling into the Twin City urban core.
That said, my fear is similar for alcohol availability. If you could
restrict sales of it to the same hours liquor store can see their stuff,
then that's about as far as I would go.
Here's the main issue: The availability of alcohol in stores where many
underage people shop for other items only encourages the illegal consumption
of this dangerous drug and raises the likelihood of addiction. It's going to
be worse when the clerks are also underage and should not be allowed to sell
alcohol.
Further, grocery store clerks are far less schooled in the fine art of
spotting underage liquor buyers. More hoodwinked or colluding teens would
let the alcohol slip through their checkouts. This could also - if the
required sales age for alcohol commodities is higher than the present cadre
of parttime clerks - reduce job opportunities for younger workers.
Of course, we sell beer out of many of these joints now, so I'm not at all
sure any of it makes that much difference.
But expansion of availability of any addictive substance is no way to
curtail its abuse. Period.
Andy Driscoll
--
"Whatever keeps you from your work is your work."
Albert Camus
The Driscoll Group/Communications
Writing/Graphics/Political Consulting/Communications Strategies
835 Linwood Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105
651-293-9039
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> From: "David Brauer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001 21:48:39 -0600
> To: "Mpls list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: RE: [Mpls] Wine in Minneapolis Grocery Stores
>
> Bill Dooley asks:
>
>> Was anyone surprised that the recent Minneapolis City Council resolution
> opposing legislation which would allow wine in Minneapolis grocery stores
> unanimous? Bill Dooley-Ward 13-Kenny.
>
> You know, I was. Having lived in states that allow this, I would have
> supported it if the daughter of some friends of mine hadn't been killed by a
> drunk driver during Thanksgiving weekend. Now, I don't really have the
> stomach to back an expansion of the liquor-selling franchise. That said, I
> do wonder if anyone has objective evidence of how much drunk
> driving/underage drinking climbs when booze is offered in liquor stores. I
> also wonder just how many thousands current booze-related interests (bars,
> restaurants, distributors) contribute to the council.
>
> In any event, my own nascent pc-ness is probably the biggest driving force
> behind the council's vote.
>
> David Brauer
> King Field - Ward 10
>
>
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