Laws that make sense – a novel idea!

“In a move that will provide much-needed economic development to struggling wineries, grape growers, and small businesses, a comprehensive proposal has been introduced in the New York State Senate that will allow for the sale of wine and liquor in supermarkets and groceries and also enact vital reforms to the state’s “Blue Laws” to benefit liquor store owners.”  This was the first paragraph of a story I read yesterday on Newsjunky.com  that got my attention.

The reason it got my attention is that this is a second attempt to allow sales of wine in grocery stores in NY. The first attempt failed based on strong opposition from mom and pop liquor stores that rightly noted many would be put out of business due to current Prohibition era “Blue Laws” that  limited them to one liquor license as well as  restricted hours and what they can sell.         

Why is this so important to  New York? Simple. The New York grape growing industry is the third larget in the country and the potential for additional visibility and sales (dah, tax revenue) is significant.

Who coud it benefit?  Well … certainly the New York wine industry, also grocery stores could boost their sales, and yes, even mom and pop stores would have additional freedom to expand their business due to changes in the laws. Consumers would also benefit in convenience and likely lower cost due to competition. The State of New York would benefit from addtional tax revenue as well as perhaps lower cost due to less regulation (paperwork).

Who would it hurt? Well, for those mom and pop stores that were marginal to begin with, this could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Why did I take notice? After all I don’t live or work in New York.

Simply because this is how government I believe should work: 

• Review a problem from various perspectives,
• Create new laws is warranted, or fix or amend antiquated laws that simply don’t make sense, and
• Implement a better system where everyone can benefit (assuming everyone is willing to make some small changes to take advantage of the new legislation).

In the process, there is less regulation, but more business. Geez , sounds like common sense?

 Hang on!

New update: another article this morning in Timesunion.com that has an interesting rebuttal from Jeff Saunders of the Coalition for the Last Store on Main Street. He makes two points:

1. The large grocery stores will use this to put the mom and pop stores out of business. This seems like a grey area in that the changes to the ”Blue Laws” are meant to place these stores on a much more equal footing. Not being fully knowledgeable on the current or future changes, I will leave this one up to debate in Albany.
2. No new legislation has been enacted in any State for the last 23 years that allows the sale of wine in grocery stores. Hmmmm. Yup .. thats a great argument!  Almost holds as much sense as keeping all the Prohibition era legislation that hasn’t seen change in over 75 years that inhibits interstate commerce, puts a huge burden on small and medium sized wineries, greatly reduces consumer choice, and continues to foster a funnel stranglehold on the wine industry  for no reason other than to ensure that the current monopoly continues.

Any idea what side I am leaning towards??

UPDATE August 7, 2009: Looks like someone may agree with me!

UPDATE August 10,2009:

And the saga continues ….