Bud Church, president of the Worcester County Commissioners, is hoping to receive fewer calls about rumors regarding the prices that government’s liquor-supply operation charges bar and restaurant owners.
Worcester is one of four counties in Maryland where government acts as the middleman between distilled spirits wholesalers and bars and restaurants, with some of its pricing practices causing almost two decades of licensee anger and resentment.
The most recent flare-up occurred just weeks ago, when license holders believed the county commissioners would offer no price breaks after they take over the dispensary system from the autonomous but soon-to-be defunct Liquor Control Board (LCB).
“I’m looking forward to the first week of not getting a call from a licensee” about something that’s not true, Church said during Tuesday’s budget meeting. “We’re working for you and we’re working with you.”
Some of the licensees at the meeting on the $14.8 million Liquor Control Enterprise Fund had led the charge to eliminate the state-sanctioned LCB. Their complaints of unfair pricing and questionable business practices resulted in an investigation by the state Comptroller’s Office and to state legislation this year to abolish the board and turn over its operations to the county.
Ooh, Bailey's is good, but it should be in the fridge, not on that shelf
ReplyDeleteThe government should not be in the retail business. Or the drug business. But, of course, a captive audience makes good customers. They can't wait for the legalization of marijuana. Then they will be able to monopolize the gambling/lottery sales (which you and I go prison for), liquor sales (just another addictive drug, which the government should not be distributing), then then cap it off by selling pot (which is so dangerous, millions are in prison for it at this very moment). Citizens go to prison for these "bad" things, but when our "leaders" do it, well, its golden.
ReplyDelete