{"id":485,"date":"2025-03-21T10:25:15","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T11:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spanishliteratureintranslation.com\/?p=485"},"modified":"2025-03-27T12:14:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T12:14:22","slug":"opinion-buy-alcohol-while-grocery-shopping-this-bill-aims-to-make-that-a-little-harder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/spanishliteratureintranslation.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/21\/opinion-buy-alcohol-while-grocery-shopping-this-bill-aims-to-make-that-a-little-harder\/","title":{"rendered":"Opinion: Buy alcohol while grocery shopping? This bill aims to make that a little harder"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Coloradans, we pride ourselves on our trailblazing and entrepreneurial spirit. We have a history of leading the pack and innovating new paths forward. In one respect, however, liquor laws and licensure, our state is falling far behind — and Senate Bill 33 is a prime example.<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 33<\/a> is a protectionist measure that will hurt Colorado businesses, resulting in lost jobs, investment, and revenue. This bill, currently being considered by the state legislature, unfairly prohibits any additional liquor licenses for grocery stores and other large retailers in favor of protecting liquor store market shares. This measure has continued to move forward, with blatant disregard for consumer convenience and the millions of dollars grocers and other retailers have already invested.<\/p>\n

In 2016, when the Legislature passed bipartisan Senate Bill 197<\/a>, dubbed the \u201cGrand Compromise\u201d, grocery stores and convenience stores were finally allowed to sell full-strength beer \u2013 similar to 30 other states. In 2022, voters passed Proposition 125 to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores, again choosing to expand their options.<\/p>\n

Since the passage of Senate 197 and Proposition 125<\/a>, Colorado grocery stores, convenience stores, distributors, and alcohol product manufacturers have made major multi-million dollar investments including hiring more staff, creating more products, and purchasing liquor licenses \u2013 at great cost \u2013 from liquor store owners. The law already requires grocery stores and other retailers to buy not one but two liquor licenses from existing liquor stores in order to acquire a license themselves. In fact, grocery stores and other retailers have already spent millions of dollars purchasing more than 70 liquor licenses from liquor stores.<\/p>\n

Continued efforts to roll back the will of Colorado consumers and limit the market like Senate Bill 33, will only lead to job loss and negatively impact businesses across the state. Coloradans have consistently voted to expand access to more convenient and diverse alcohol purchasing options, yet few other sectors of the economy have received the level of protectionism the legislature is now providing to liquor stores.<\/p>\n

This is in spite of the fact that data from the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division shows that liquor stores were 40% more likely to sell alcohol products to underage buyers. In fact, in 2023, liquor stores accounted for 28.8% of violations, while large retailers and grocers were responsible for only 6.8%. If, as it should be, ensuring safe alcohol sales is our priority, limiting licenses for retailers with stronger compliance records is not in line with that goal.<\/p>\n

Grocery stores, convenience stores, and other retailers play key roles in our economies and communities. They employ tens of thousands of Coloradans. More than 30 states already allow some form of beer, wine and spirits in grocery stores, providing consumers and families with convenient, safe, and affordable options for purchasing alcohol.<\/p>\n