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<br />Wine in Grocerv TalkinI! Points <br /> <br />../ Convenience should never comDromise our public safety. For beverage alcohol retailers, the decision to serve <br />alcohol begins when the individual walks through the door. It does not start and end at the checkout counter. <br />Selling alcohol is much different than selling cereal, soap and thousands of other items. Selling wine for <br />"convenience" is a serious public safety issue. <br /> <br />../ Supermarkets can already sell wine. What puzzles us most about this whole issue is that they can already sell <br />wine! Cub, Byerly's, Casteo and Sam's Clubs are perfect examples. Alcohol is a controlled substance, and the laws <br />that govern how it is sold are in place for a reason. They work.! ! <br /> <br />../ Don't be fooled.. beer is next. There is no difference between "Wine with Dinner," Beer with a Burger, or a <br />Martini with a Steak. In addition, The Grocers state, "Wine in Grocery is a convenience enjoyed in 33 other <br />states." What they fail to mention is that three-fourths of states allow strong beer to be sold in grocery stores and <br />about one-third of states allow distilled spirits to be sold in grocery stores. <br /> <br />../ Fiscal impacts would hurt many cities. Throughout the state, cities with municipal beverage operations would <br />lose valuable revenue. In addition, this legislation would negatively impact a municipality's tax base, by forcing <br />small independently owned retailers to close their businesses. <br /> <br />../ The public does not support the proDosal. Two separate polls conducted.by DRS Acquisitions, Woodbury Iv1N, <br />indicate Minnesota consumers dramatically oppose alcohol (wine) being sold in grocery stores. Consumers also <br />think it is currently "easy" to legally purchase alcohol products, would be "concerned" if Minnesota were to <br />significantly expand the number of retail outlets allowed to sell alcohol, and are overwhelmingly against <br />increasing the exposure of children to the retail sale of alcohoL <br /> <br />../ The state of Minnesota is concerned. According to the Legislative Auditor: ".. .Policymakers should be cautious <br />in considering dramatic changes in Minnesota's retail (alcohol) laws. Even a minor increase in the costs of alcohol <br />abuse would offset the savings consumers would receive from lower price~ apd improved convenience." <br /> <br />.../ It's not about "convenience" at all. If they were really talking about convenience, why have the grocers drafted <br />tp.eir bill to exclude the smaller entrepreneurs and convenience stores? It's not about convenience. It's about the <br />supermarkets wanting to add even more profit to their bottom lines. <br /> <br />F or more information: <br /> <br />.~ <br />~ <br /> <br />www.minnesotasmart.com <br />