Come on, Gazette; if you’re presenting a Point/Counterpoint discussion, present both sides!
Regarding the idea of selling so-called strong beer and wine in grocery stores, Roy Williams (“Point: Revise outmoded liquor laws,” Jan. 19) offered nothing of any substance in his allotted number of words. It was pure political/ambassador speak: blah, blah, blah. But being the head of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, he’s never supposed to say anything that would ruffle anyone’s feathers.
As for Bill Bishop’s treatise against selling such in grocery stores (“Counterpoint: Paying the price,” Jan. 19), he didn’t convince me. He says that to own a liquor store one must be resident of Oklahoma for 10 years. That’s not true of any other retailer, so why should it be a prerequisite to own a liquor store?
Bishop thinks grocery stores being able to sell 6-point beer and wine will put him out of business. Walmart selling groceries didn’t put Crest or Buy for Less out of business. As for the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission being able to do its job, increased sales tax will fund more agents.
Bring on the competition; the consumer will benefit and deadheads won’t.
—Tom Furlong
Oklahoma City
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2011.