Time to Break up the Ohio Liquor Cabal

Ohio isn't the only state with ridiculous laws related to alcohol.
Here, only a "state store" can sell "real" liquor, i.e. the 40 proof or higher stuff. "Carry outs", (package stores or ice houses as they are called in some places), sell cheap, low quality, low alcohol content crap, aka rot-gut, that no self respecting connoisseur would touch with a 10 ft. pole.

An article in National Review, "Prohibition Is Alive and Well in Absurd State Alcohol Laws", addresses this matter, directly referencing Idaho, Indiana and Virginia.

A quick look at the Ohio Division of Liquor Control web site failed to find a list of licensed so-called "state stores". As far as I can tell, there is only one "state store" in Fayette County and that is located in the Kroger grocery store.

A cursory on line search leaves me confused. According to an article in Columbus Business First, "The Ohio Division of Liquor Control began cutting prices on around 700 different bottles of spirits . . .", and in another article says, the "(liquor control) division wants to clear shelves of product that isn’t selling well".

A complete list of products being eliminated can be seen, here.

Just who is selling us booze; the state or a privately owned business? If it is the state, what business do they have in engaging in retail sales? If it is private business, what business does the state have in setting prices and dictating what a retailer can have on his shelves?

The views expressed in the above NR article reflect my own. The State of Ohio needs to get out of the practice of controlling the business of liquor sales. There are a mere 465 retail liquor stores in this state, a state of some 11.7 million people. That works out to one store for every 25,160 people. Talk about creating a monopoly!

Such monopolies hurt consumers by limiting their choices. People in rural communities are forced to drive many miles. It hurts business by eliminating competition and concentrating the market in the hands of the connected and privileged. Rest assured, the 465 licensed liquor stores are not owned by 465 different people or entities. These stores are concentrated in the hands of far fewer.

It is a sure bet, too, that the Ohio liquor cabal is quite generous when it comes to campaign contributions to legislators who refuse to modernize our laws and break up the monopoly.

It is long past time for Ohio to move into the 20th century (yes, I know we are in the 21st century); the liquor cartel needs to be broken up. We are approaching another election season. The primary is scheduled for May 8th, I think it is, and November will be upon us, soon. Let's ask the candidates what their stance is.