Chris Superb
Increasing Colorado’s alcohol legal guidelines might sound like a good suggestion at first. However like a wolf in sheep’s clothes, there are various unintended penalties of the three alcohol-related measures on the November poll: Props 124, 125 and 126.
Corporations like DoorDash are dumping hundreds of thousands of {dollars} into advert campaigns to attempt to persuade Colorado voters to help their poll measures — but when they succeed, these advert {dollars} might very nicely be their final investments into our economic system.
In the meantime, Colorado’s 1,650-plus unbiased, native liquor shops have develop into bedrocks of our communities, sponsoring little league groups and group occasions whereas offering an outlet for our burgeoning craft beer and distilling scene. They create jobs and help a fair wider economic system all through the state. However they don’t have tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to dump into an advert marketing campaign to inform you that.
The marketing campaign in opposition to 124, 125 and 126 is really a David vs. Goliath story, the place massive, out-of-state firms imagine they’ll purchase public opinion as a way to purchase our alcohol business. However these measures danger way more hurt than good to our communities.
The comfort they declare to offer has penalties, and it comes at a steep price to Coloradans. Large-box liquor shops say they may lower costs, however they’ve a historical past of utilizing predatory practices to bankrupt smaller companies, then elevating costs once more. As soon as they management the market they go away customers with fewer choices at increased prices.
Because of this a coalition throughout Colorado has come collectively to oppose poll measures 124, 125 and 126, which is able to improve the power of nationwide chains to swoop into our alcohol market, shuttering small companies and undermining public security.
Colorado’s present alcohol supply rules prioritize security, whereas firms like DoorDash and Uber have a historical past of letting their supply personnel ignore tips and procedures to confirm buyer ages and verify for over-intoxication.
In California, regulation enforcement is elevating pink flags over at-home supply by DoorDash and Uber as a result of they’d an 80% failure price throughout routine security compliance checks — permitting far simpler entry to alcohol for underage youth.
We will’t let these large profit-driven firms dictate Colorado alcohol gross sales and rules. At present, Colorado residents have a direct say within the approval course of for liquor shops’ licenses of their group. These initiatives will eradicate that native management and let the large out-of-state firms set Colorado coverage.
These alcohol measures are unhealthy enterprise for Colorado. Vote NO on Propositions 124, 125 and 126. Whereas they might sound good at first look, don’t imagine the big-out-state company making large guarantees. They’re a wolf in sheep’s clothes.
Chris Superb is a board member of the Preserving Colorado Native marketing campaign and govt director of the Colorado Licensed Beverage Affiliation.