Liquor Sales

While I appreciate Jim Williams’ “About Alabama” article in the July 16 issue, “State Budget Reform Is a Must,” I want to challenge him on one point. Privatizing liquor sales in Alabama is a terrible idea. It will not save the money that its proponents say it will, but will actually result in a loss of revenue for the state. Alabama ranks among the highest in tax revenue from the sale of liquor among all 50 states (consistently in the top five and sometimes No. 1), yet it consistently ranks among the lowest (sometimes No. 50) in consumption, which is of the greatest concern to Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP). When states move from a “control” system to a “privatized” (or “licensed”) system, revenue drops dramatically and consumption climbs.

Because alcohol is a mind-altering and addictive drug that destroys families and lives and actually has an overall negative impact on the economy, we want to see the controls remain in place. In fact, we believe that the Legislature should give more regulatory control to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board than it currently has. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than $225 billion is spent annually cleaning up the mess left behind by alcohol. That means that for every $1 of tax revenue coming to the State of Alabama from alcohol sales, it costs the state $15–$18.

When I hear legislators say, “We need to get Alabama out of the liquor business,” I argue, “We’re not in the liquor business; we’re in the control business.”

Facts related to this issue can be found at www.alcoholjustice.org. Under the “Campaigns” tab, click on “State Control and Regulation” to read several documents that give the facts about “control” vs. “privatization.”

Joe Godfrey
ALCAP