tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post2554676813704377251..comments2024-03-17T14:10:05.912-05:00Comments on The Chuck Cowdery Blog: Why Can't Indiana Convenience Stores Sell Cold Beer?Chuck Cowderyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-10787078877484721302014-03-02T21:01:59.493-06:002014-03-02T21:01:59.493-06:00IMHO, any already s***-faced college kid won't...IMHO, any already s***-faced college kid won't care whether his/her beer is warm or cold, so s/he won't care where s/he buys it :-/ Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-37443324121601465362014-02-25T12:28:52.463-06:002014-02-25T12:28:52.463-06:00I hear you and I genuinely feel your pain, but gra...I hear you and I genuinely feel your pain, but grasping at the right to sell cold beer is a pretty thin reed. Obviously, the powers that be don't care about that other stuff, because they've already eroded the exclusivity this far. The 21st Amendment rights granted to the states are still pretty strong so there's a chance the package stores will prevail in court, but your position is weak because so much has already been lost.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-56621214826027855962014-02-25T12:02:03.820-06:002014-02-25T12:02:03.820-06:00The thing is it isn't an artificial competitiv...The thing is it isn't an artificial competitive advantage or an entitlement. Package stores were supposed to be where you got alcohol because alcohol is a controlled substance and for that reason they were, and still are, prohibited from selling virtually anything else. Package stores were supposed to be gatekeepers, not monopolies. That is why their employees have server permits, just like bartenders and you must be 21 to enter a package store. The people bringing that lawsuit would like you to believe it is an entitlement because it is the last bit of business they haven't yet been able to pry away and I guarantee they do a much worse job at being a gatekeeper than package stores do. The bottom line is that even the best, most knowledgeable, package stores are going to be hurt very, very badly. The State will get no more tax revenue. The customers won't have as many places to go to find products that aren't the in the top 10 or 20 SKUs. The public won't be as well protected from underage sales and intoxicated buyers. The only people who win here are the grocery/pharmacy/c-store chains.Arherringnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-71317933790180613702014-02-25T10:59:58.586-06:002014-02-25T10:59:58.586-06:00I hear you, but hanging on to an artificial compet...I hear you, but hanging on to an artificial competitive advantage isn't healthy for business in the long run. If you do a great job at something, like craft beer selection, you'll do fine. The stores that live off their cold beer entitlement and have nothing else to offer won't.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-11841545634193507912014-02-25T10:15:47.436-06:002014-02-25T10:15:47.436-06:00As it stands for customers right now there is very...As it stands for customers right now there is very little functional difference between a package liquor store and a Wal-Mart or Target (or anybody else who can classify themselves as a "Grocery" and has a Phamacy) in Indiana except for cold beer. It wasn't always that way. C-stores, pharmacies and grocery stores have gradually eroded the barriers that used to keep them out of the alcohol business. Cold Beer is just the last domino to fall and could very well be the final coffin nail for many Indiana package stores.<br /><br />Personally I don't understand why aficionados of craft beer and whiskey would cheer this. Where do you go for the latest and most interesting boutique brews and spirits, CVS, Wal-Mart, the mega-grocery in the shopping center or a pacakage store that specializes in such things and has employees who know what you are talking about? Half of their volume is cold beer. It is what keeps the doors open so they can sell the other stuff.Arherringnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-40715300663747434102014-02-23T22:28:51.932-06:002014-02-23T22:28:51.932-06:00The curse of vested interests and lazy legislators...The curse of vested interests and lazy legislators is everywhere.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-70874064786138041712014-02-23T22:25:47.760-06:002014-02-23T22:25:47.760-06:00Well, I guess that Oklahoma provides a complimenta...Well, I guess that Oklahoma provides a complimentary arrangement to that in Indiana. You can only buy full strength beer in liquor stores in OK, but it cannot be chilled. You can only buy chilled beer in convenience stores or grocery stores (but it won't be full strength). What's really comical is that liquor stores can sell only products that contain alcohol, so you can't buy mixers, snacks, etc., but if you want to buy bitters, you have to go to a grocery store. I found this out when I gathered up the makings for a Manhattan. As a resident of Texas, who commutes to OK, I am frustrated by two states, not just one. ha.Pat in OKCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-13762903025248591672014-02-23T13:07:28.328-06:002014-02-23T13:07:28.328-06:00DISCUS has done a good job of getting Sunday sales...DISCUS has done a good job of getting Sunday sales approved, going state by state. It's a good case, because the states that don't allow it are simply leaving tax money on the table, and they hate to do that.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-73025754829648999792014-02-23T10:37:39.997-06:002014-02-23T10:37:39.997-06:00What really drives me crazy is the law prohibiting...What really drives me crazy is the law prohibiting liquor sales on Sundays. C'mon Indiana, step into the 21st century.<br />Crown Point MarcAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-7615663647148778042014-02-22T22:09:20.704-06:002014-02-22T22:09:20.704-06:00When I was a teenager I only bought cold beer. My...When I was a teenager I only bought cold beer. My parents didn't let me keep it in the fridge. Now, whenever I get nostalgic for bud light, I have a hard time finding a place to buy a warm six pack because I drink them slowly I don't like to take up fridge space with beer bottles that are going to sit there for a month and I don't like to re-chill beer. Lazernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-64834231564051151932014-02-22T11:57:19.733-06:002014-02-22T11:57:19.733-06:00Indiana has the same thing.Indiana has the same thing.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-64862585706910529862014-02-22T09:16:40.924-06:002014-02-22T09:16:40.924-06:00Yet another example of how legislative theory ofte...Yet another example of how legislative theory often overlooks real life. Utah has a similar law...but every State store has a rapid-chill system near the checkout. So, really, what's to be gained here? It's a case of feeling good rather than doing good. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com