Is Captain Morgan a *fire* captain?
Here in Portlandia, we live on the border of Washington State, and so our TV stations run political ads aimed at Washington voters. Currently they're gearing up to vote up there on a measure that would shut down state liquor stores and have hard liquor sold in the grocery stores, like they do in California. It's a major big-money showdown between players like Costco, who want to make some serious coin by getting into selling booze, and the people who are already on that gravy train -- the current network of distributors, apparently.
But man, you look at the TV ads, and it's a total fantasy world. The "yes" folks wheel out a fireman to tell us that the state will come out ahead financially if it closes the state stores -- and that's more money for public safety. Uh huh. Then on the "no" side we get another fireman-type "first responder" telling us that if the measure passes, there will be absolute carnage on the roads from a new epidemic of teenage drinking.
Whew. Somebody open a window.
| Posted at 6:43 PM | Permalink |
|
Comments (13)
After living in the Pacific Northwest for 22 years; all I can say as a Nevada resident is that liquor is about 25-50% cheaper than it is in Oregon and Washington for the same items. We routinely bring up a case or two of various liquors for our relatives when we drive up to visit the Portland area. We also have a much larger selection of wines, beers and liquors than we ever saw in Oregon or Washington state stores. This includes many premium items we never saw available in the Northwest.
I'm not sure about the statistics for DUI offenses; but I doubt they are a lot higher than in Oregon or Washington despite the fact that you can get liquor at most casinos 24/7/365..
Posted by Dave A. | October 13, 2011 7:14 PM
Point well taken Jack. Just proves that no matter what measure is in front of us, we can always count on first responders, the elderly, the sick, and the dying ending up on camera to make the plea.
Tough as it is sometimes, ignore the messenger and follow the money, then follow your heart.
Posted by Gibby | October 13, 2011 7:27 PM
I'm awaiting the "for the children" ad on this one. Surely it's coming.
Posted by Jack Bog | October 13, 2011 7:29 PM
Bah, political TeeVee ads are for the unwashed masses with 20 second attention spans. They have to catch them between watching American Idol and Dancing with the stars.
Oregon State controlled liquor stores are ridiculous. The OLCC is a waste of tax payer monies. State fixed prices and no competition to speak of. Meanwhile there is an open air market for horse and crank downtown, oh but buying a single of beer in the Pearl? Forget it.
Come on Washingtonians, pass this thing and I will drive up and stimulate your economy. It is a long drive to All Star Liquor store in CA to buy in bulk
Posted by Stef | October 13, 2011 8:01 PM
Cities should be able to keep all or most of the liquor tax too.
They could use it for Bourbon Renewal.
Posted by Ben | October 13, 2011 8:06 PM
Bourbon Renewal...now there is a project I can support !
I nominate Ben for the office of Bourbon Development Commisioner.
Posted by Portland Native | October 13, 2011 9:18 PM
Dump the whole OLCC and keep the tax money where it is generated.
With some oversight by me the Bourbon Renewal Czar.
I'd require cities to use the money to make their cities clean and safe before anything else.
Posted by Ben | October 13, 2011 9:32 PM
I saw the fireman liquor privatization commercial today. It panders some but it makes sense for political messaging. For those who recognize that state run liquor sales is ridiculous it doesn't matter who they trot out - we are going to vote for it. For all the control freaks who fret any change to status quo, it helps to encourage them with messages from public safety officers.
Posted by Panchopdx | October 13, 2011 9:55 PM
Bourbon renewal?
What about Scotch Tapeworms?
Posted by cc | October 13, 2011 10:19 PM
They started the "for the children" ads tonight on channel six. They had some mother who lost her kid to a drunk driver extolling folks to vote no. The drunk who killed her kid apparently bought the booze from a convenience store.
Posted by JS | October 13, 2011 10:31 PM
First that guy lineage is questionable. They shot some video in front of an ambulance with the guy wearing a "wildland firefighter" quarter zip and a terrible back story.I know of no wildland agencies who respond to auto accidents. I'm thinking he's one of fireman Randy's cronies taking advantage of his triple digit retirement with a little side work.
Posted by Robert R | October 14, 2011 9:57 AM
Thank God I live in California. When I first moved back down here, the first bottle of liquor I bought was a $18 fifth of Bombay Sapphire Gin at Rite Aid. They were having a sale on Gin as everyone else is buying Vodka.
As for BevMo! Wow! I have enjoyed $10 pints of New Belgium Dunkelweiss and am thinking about plugging $13.99 on a pint of New Belgium La Folie Sour Brown Ale.
Did I mention, BevMo! sells Anderson Valley Brewing Company beer such as Boont Amber Ale?
Finally, at BevMo! I can enjoy all the Anchor Steam Beer I want from the original on down to their latest seasonal.
Oh how not living under the OLCC spoils one.
Posted by Killiana1a | October 14, 2011 10:09 PM
js wrote: They started the "for the children" ads tonight on channel six. They had some mother who lost her kid to a drunk driver extolling folks to vote no. The drunk who killed her kid apparently bought the booze from a convenience store.
I heard that ad this morning and I thought about how they sell beer in convenience stores throughout Washington state. I've been told and I even verified it myself, you can get really drunk drinking beer purchased at convenience stores.
Posted by thor | October 15, 2011 10:34 AM