4 ms·

That’s just goal post shifting. The point is that government owned direct to consumer stores exist in areas of all political leaning.

throwaway3060 1y ago
That's because liquor stores originated from an earlier incarnation of the culture wars. That was a long time ago, and I don't think anyone seriously believes in that justification now, but the inertia remains.
- cogman10 1y ago
  They still exist in Idaho (where I live) because the state doesn't believe in advertising alcohol. I think that's a pretty good reason for them to exist even today. We don't need the market competing to get people to drink more.
  - ch4s3 1y ago
    > I think that's a pretty good reason for them to exist even today. Only if you think the government should be telling people what to buy and what not to buy. I personally find that highly objectionable, particularly given the outsized power of primary voters in most places.
Ferret7446 1y ago
You suggested that this is good because it is similar to a thing, and many people pointed out that thing you compared it to is bad. That is not goalpost shifting, that is you demonstrating that this is in fact bad.
- afavour 1y ago
  I never said anything about good or bad. It was a response to: > Government run grocery stores are middle of the road?
ch4s3 1y ago
It’s the goalpost you set. They’re hardly mainstream if everyone hates them.
- cogman10 1y ago
  I don't hate them. I have one in walking distance from my home. It's a liquor store, what should I hate about it? The only people I see complaining about them are religious teetotalers.
  - ch4s3 1y ago
    > what should I hate about it? The prices are usually higher than private stores, the merchandising is worse, the selection is usually bad, and they're generally just a miserable shopping experience. Compare them to a nice wine and liquor store in states where those are allowed and the difference is quite apparent. They also never have staff that know anything about the products which is just a shitty DMV like experience.
    - cogman10 1y ago
      Other than merchandising (why is that important?) nothing you describe is an issue with the Idaho liquor stores. Prices are pretty in line with market rates. The selection is really pretty good. The shopping experience is the same as any other store (what makes a shopping experience "miserable?") > Compare them to a nice wine In Idaho, wine is allowed to be sold in grocery stores and specialty shops. The liquor stores are for hard beverages. > They also never have staff that know anything about the products Staff seems just fine with the products. But again, don't see why that's important in general. > just a shitty DMV like experience. I don't really know what you mean by this. You go in, find the booze you like, pay for it at the register, or ask a clerk a question if you have one (Do you have a lot of questions purchasing alcohol? Every time?) If you want a more expensive experience you can go to a wine shop in Idaho and let someone blow smoke up your ass about the notes. Look, Idaho might just be particularly good at running a booze shop, but I doubt it. It may be that because Idaho only has liquor stores for hard alcoholic beverages it's made for a better experience all around. It certainly doesn't suffer from selection, knowledge, or experience problems. I think the only issue you might take is that it's just sorted shelves of alcohol with little flashy theming.

throwaway3060 1y ago

That's because liquor stores originated from an earlier incarnation of the culture wars. That was a long time ago, and I don't think anyone seriously believes in that justification now, but the inertia remains.

cogman10 1y ago
They still exist in Idaho (where I live) because the state doesn't believe in advertising alcohol. I think that's a pretty good reason for them to exist even today. We don't need the market competing to get people to drink more.
- ch4s3 1y ago
  > I think that's a pretty good reason for them to exist even today. Only if you think the government should be telling people what to buy and what not to buy. I personally find that highly objectionable, particularly given the outsized power of primary voters in most places.

Ferret7446 1y ago

You suggested that this is good because it is similar to a thing, and many people pointed out that thing you compared it to is bad. That is not goalpost shifting, that is you demonstrating that this is in fact bad.

afavour 1y ago
I never said anything about good or bad. It was a response to: > Government run grocery stores are middle of the road?

ch4s3 1y ago

It’s the goalpost you set. They’re hardly mainstream if everyone hates them.

cogman10 1y ago
I don't hate them. I have one in walking distance from my home. It's a liquor store, what should I hate about it? The only people I see complaining about them are religious teetotalers.
- ch4s3 1y ago
  > what should I hate about it? The prices are usually higher than private stores, the merchandising is worse, the selection is usually bad, and they're generally just a miserable shopping experience. Compare them to a nice wine and liquor store in states where those are allowed and the difference is quite apparent. They also never have staff that know anything about the products which is just a shitty DMV like experience.
  - cogman10 1y ago
    Other than merchandising (why is that important?) nothing you describe is an issue with the Idaho liquor stores. Prices are pretty in line with market rates. The selection is really pretty good. The shopping experience is the same as any other store (what makes a shopping experience "miserable?") > Compare them to a nice wine In Idaho, wine is allowed to be sold in grocery stores and specialty shops. The liquor stores are for hard beverages. > They also never have staff that know anything about the products Staff seems just fine with the products. But again, don't see why that's important in general. > just a shitty DMV like experience. I don't really know what you mean by this. You go in, find the booze you like, pay for it at the register, or ask a clerk a question if you have one (Do you have a lot of questions purchasing alcohol? Every time?) If you want a more expensive experience you can go to a wine shop in Idaho and let someone blow smoke up your ass about the notes. Look, Idaho might just be particularly good at running a booze shop, but I doubt it. It may be that because Idaho only has liquor stores for hard alcoholic beverages it's made for a better experience all around. It certainly doesn't suffer from selection, knowledge, or experience problems. I think the only issue you might take is that it's just sorted shelves of alcohol with little flashy theming.