Posted on 04/28/2003 5:24:30 PM PDT by Willie Green
No, I'm not.
I'm quite willing to agree that Pennsylvania's liquor laws are in need of some degree of reform.
But if you think that I'm going to endorse some kind of whacknut libertarian laisezz-faire approach, YOU'RE the one who is out of your tree.
First off, despite my disrespect for dumbed-down teenagers, I think Pa's drinking age should be lowered to 18. My sole reason for this position is consistancy with U.S. law requiring registration for military draft. (Yeah, it's not active, but males must still register. I think females should also, but that's a different issue.) As long as that's the law of the land, I think 18 should be the age for ALL adult rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities.
For those younger than 18, well they've always been sufficiently creative to find ways around whatever system is set-up. But I see no reason to make it easy for them by allowing alcohol sales in any and all retail outlets. Keep alcholic beverage sales separate, where they can be monitored more closely.
As far as the State Stores go, I agree that they should be privatized. There is no need for a state monopoly that simply adds more state employees to the state payroll. If privatized, perhaps the specialty wine/liquor shops can add beer to their inventories as well.
One advantage to the consumer of keeping alcohol sales separate from other retail items is that the alcohol specialty outlets usually carry a wider inventory to choose from. Picking up a case of beer at WalMart may (or may not) save a few cents, but that undercuts sales (and availability) of other retailers who would offer a wider selection in their specialized inventory.
None of this states your original premise: Pennsylvania's system is more convenient.
That is insane.
I thought that was implicit in the greater selection that is available in the specialized outlets, even under the current system.
But please excuse me for attempting to discuss the issue intelligently with somebody who's only interested in a cheap & quick drunk. I should've known better.
I have visited several midwestern cities, and I must agree that Pittsburgh has more in common with Cleveland and Minneapolis than most of us would care to admit. My first time through Cleveland, I thought to myself, "This is Pittsburgh on Lake Erie!"
Good grief. Most Pittsburghers don't even know who Norman Mailer is.
Sounds to me like you're simply hangin' with the wrong crowd.
My biggest problem with Pittsburgh is that every crowd seems to be the wrong crowd. And as far as Norman Mailer is concerned, he should have hired someone else to read excerpts from his book, because the only thing I got out of listening to Mailer's recitation of his own writing was a half-hour nap.
BITE YOUR TONGUE! <|:)~
Cleveland?!?!? Shirley you can't be series!
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