State Representative Joe Rice (D) said the state's current liquor laws do not make sense, but he said the state should take a comprehensive look at all of them instead [image-nocss] of trying to change them piecemeal.
Right now, c-stores and supermarkets are largely limited to selling 3.2% beer; they said sales have fallen since liquor stores started staying open on Sundays under a law passed last year.
Many liquor store owners reluctantly supported the Sunday change as a way to protect their businesses from a push by supermarkets to be able to sell beer and wine.
An economic forecast commissioned by liquor stores found that allowing supermarkets and c-stores to also sell full-strength beer could drive up to half of the liquor stores in the state out of business in the next three to four years.
Darlene McBee, a liquor store owner from Pueblo, took a bus to the hearing with 25 other owners from the city. She said the bill would benefit big chains at the expense of small businesses. Janet Ribal, who joined her on the bus, said chains would be able to sell beer below cost and drive them out of business.
But c-store owners, including dozens of 7-Eleven franchise owners and managers in red and black uniform shirts, said they were small-business owners too and were hurting because of existing liquor laws. Several 7-Eleven franchisees spoke at the brief rally before the group organized to march to the state Capitol, added a report by Face the State. The marchers chanted "Hey, Ho, 3.2 must go!" The store owners were hoping that legislation sponsored by State Rep. Jenifer Veiga would be passed to eliminate 3.2 beer in Colorado, allowing them to sell full strength beer and compete with liquor stores.
7-Eleven store owner Sejal Patel told 7NEWS, "I've lost 80% of my beer sales.
"I had to let two people go because of the decrease in our Sunday beer sales," store owner Robert Marquez told the news outlet.
Colorado has so many small liquor stores because liquor licenses are limited to one per person, said AP. Supermarket and c-store chains can apply for a liquor license, but can sell beer, wine and liquor at only one of their locations in the state because of the one-per-person limit.
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