Today sees a Utah statewide change in the liquor laws. Starting now you will no longer be able to purchase fruity alcoholic malt beverages in grocery stores. Instead you will only be able to purchase them in state liquor stores. All of this is being done in the name of "protecting the children". But I ask you, is that the real reason?
Let's stop and look at this a bit more carefully. Who is going to gain by this new law?
The consumer? No. The consumer is the one who is going to have the convenience of having to pay more and often travel further if they want to do what is perfectly legal for them to do.
The local grocery store? No. This is just lost profits for them.
The state? Hmmmm I think we have a winner. This was never really about stopping underage drinking. Underage drinking is going to happen no matter what laws are made. This is more about the state getting a larger slice of the pie. Where do you think all the profits from these sales are going to go? Do you really think that it's going to make even the slightest bit of difference to curb underage drinking? You will excuse this writer for being a little skeptical about that.
