Colorado Bill Would Limit Liquor Sales

Independent liquor store owners are advocating for HB 24-1373, a Colorado bill that would restrict hard liquor and spirits sales to designated liquor stores in the state, reports local news source 9 News. Currently, grocers can carry “hard liquor” if they have the correct licenses.

The legislation comes roughly one year after Proposition 125 went into effect. The approved ballot measure allows for the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores.

Independent liquor stores have suffered due to the beer and wine law. Mat Dinsmore, an owner of two Northern Colorado liquor stores and the president of Colorado Independent Liquor Stores United said that at least 100 independent liquor stores closed across the state since Proposition 125 went into effect.

He believes that HB 24-1373 would help level the playing field.

"Our bill, what it’s doing is it's saying, 'Hey, the voters decided.' Wine is absolutely at grocery and convenience stores. We're not arguing that. What we are trying to say is that there needs to be some safety rails on how it is sold, where it’s sold," said Dinsmore. "What it does is it throws a lifeline to these family-owned liquor stores." Full Story