A recent article in The Washington Post suggested that Bob McDonnell’s proposal to privatize alcohol beverage sales could shortchange mental health and other state programs that are currently funded, at least in part, with ABC profits.
As an operator with multiple Virginia ABC licenses, and a past representative of the legislative arm of the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association (VHTA), I have other concerns about the privatization of the Virginia ABC and sale of liquor.
Currently Virginia has an organized, clean, and well managed system of distribution for the sale of ABC products statewide. One of the byproducts of a state controlled sale and distribution system is that Virginia consumers are not confronted by signs on every street corner, pressure sales, and individual distributors trying to peddle this controlled substance to anyone who might purchase it.
Has anyone driven to Maryland recently?
It is a prime example of a state where liquor prices are posted and advertised like gasoline prices on Midlothian Turnpike. There are discount stores on seemingly every corner; signs for the best deal on your favorite brand of vodka everywhere; and the Mad Dog 2020 sale of cheap abusive products in almost all beverage display cases.
In Virginia, our underage population is not pressured by sleazy advertising and “one for a nickel, three for a dime” pressure sales. We can take some pride that people in our communities are not bombarded with in-your-face advertising for a potentially addictive substance.
The elected Virginia Governor appoints the three commissioners of the ABC board, but the seasoned well-trained staff are the ones who keep the agency on track.
It doesn’t always work perfectly. I think that the agents could use a bit more modern-day training and dispense completely with the “Untouchables” image. Funding problems have led to uneven enforcement of code violations. And the legal process is incredibly cumbersome.
But the Virginia theory of licensing was crafted so that if you were granted the privilege of having an ABC license you were required to sell a respectable percentage of food…and be a restaurant. Under this scenario, we have many well-managed food and beverage establishments in Virginia vs. the saloon on every corner mentality in Maryland.
So to candidate McDonnell or anyone else I would say the move to privatize would cheapen Virginia’s reputation very quickly…and to what advantage?
Michael T. Byrne owns Richbrau in Richmond.
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