Newstalk 970 WBLF. I’m Wes Richards with some thoughts on the drinking life in Pennsylvania.
Word on the street is the governor would like to take another shot at privatizing the state’s liquor monopoly.
The prohibition era liquor laws in this state are without a doubt the most restrictive in the country. And if they’re aimed at curbing drinking by limiting the supply… well you know how that’s worked out.
There’s no reason for this state -- or any state -- to be in the retail booze biz. But there are plenty of them, though none as tightly wound as Pennsylvania.
Nowhere in any proposal have I heard of a clause that would grandfather the full time store employees into their jobs after privatization and guarantee their pensions. And that’s just wrong.
Any of the geniuses in the Corbett administration think of that? Maybe. But if they have, it’s not being talked about.
Government monopolies are counterproductive no matter what the field. And they’re worse than private monopolies in that you can’t vote with your stock shares. There aren’t any.
Normally, this corner of the room is against privatization and deregulation. Look what it’s done to your phone bill, your air travel, your bank.
But in this case, it sounds like the whole thing came around because prohibitionists recognized their defeat and fought and won the battle to control you… although they’d probably tell you it was to protect you from the demon rum.
No one got protected. But everyone got controlled. And we still are here in Pennsylvania.
Well, not everyone. The under-aged and just-of-age still manage to tank up and fall down, mess up lawns and stumble off balconies.
You visit anywhere on the planet that has a history of sane liquor laws, and what you’ll find is less drinking and less bingeing than you will here.
With a looser set of laws, the cultural shift won’t happen immediately, but it WILL happen.
I’m Wes Richards. My opinions are my own but you’re welcome to them. ®
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