Liquor Stores may get makeover

The Nashua Telegraph and Union Leader run Travis Anderson's piece for the Associated Press examining the history of liquor sales in New Hampshire, and Commissioner Mark Bodi's push to revamp the system by consolidating power over alcohol sales in his hands:

In New Hampshire, a run for Johnny Walker Red in 1934 felt like a trip to Red China as customers passed written orders to clerks in drab warehouses. Tim Sink, president of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, says that system lasted into the '60s and '70s.

"The stores were tucked away in these seedy areas of downtowns," he said. "It was almost like we were ashamed that they were there."

Large stores now sit just off Interstate 93 in Hooksett and at key entry points from neighboring states. Out-of-state buyers account for half of sales, and Lynch wants to lease restaurant space near the border stores – at welcome centers – to give travelers another reason to stop.

"If we are honest, these welcome centers are not very welcoming," he told lawmakers.

Bodi wants to spruce up 25 stores over the next five years but says it will take longer if he can't streamline contracting. In one extreme illustration of that problem, he said delays getting a contract approved meant it took months to fix a broken store window recently.

Grok doesn't like the van

Our friends at Granite Grok make history today, by agreeing with the Concord Monitor editorial page:

Another case made for a more limited government - so, cops need satellite TV on a stake-out?

Over at NH Watchdog, our friend Grant Bosse alerts us that even as the NH State budget is in $250 million in the whole (our state budget is about $1 Billion / year so it is a hefty percentage - thanks Democrats for boosting spending 17% during the cycle!), the Liquor Commission decided to use $442,000 to buy a van! This as Gov. Do-nothin' is pressuring all departments to cut spending big time.

Guess Commissioner Mark Bodi "doesn't get it" - or worse, believes it doesn't apply to him. Now, this is not just ANY kind of van - it is SPECIAL!

Bodi defends DUI Van

Liquor Commissioner Mark Bodi writes in to the Concord Monitor this morning to defend his department's recent use of $422,000 in federal funds to buy a van, complete with satellite television:

The paper's comment that the command center television would "allow agents to watch the news while waiting to process drunken drivers," is inaccurate. The television screen and satellite capabilities will be used only in cases of actual emergencies when law enforcement personnel must be aware of rapidly changing events, such as severe weather or critical regional or national news. This same type of equipment (and satellite TV programming) is routinely used by other states and widely used within many federal agencies. New Hampshire's recent flood and tornado tragedies are good examples of how this vehicle could be thoughtfully and economically repurposed and deployed for emergency service needs.

Bodi goes on to detail how many people have died in drunk driving accidents, nationally and in New Hampshire. Whether a big screen TV and satellite programming is an efficient way to reduce those deaths is up to those who oversee the Liquor Commission's budget.

Breaking the Liquor Store Monopoly?

New Hampshire has long relied on sales of hard alcohol at state owned stores for revenue. While other states impose hefty taxes on vodka, scotch, and rum, New Hampshire keeps prices down by simply pocketing the profit on each bottle, and barring the sale of anything harder than Pinot Noir in grocery stores.

But in an effort to boost state revenues, Liquor Commissioner Mark Bodi is floating the idea of putting Jack Daniels next to Bud Light and the Yellowtail Chardonney at your local supermarmket. Josh Rogers reports for New Hampshire Public Radio:

Listen

About 5 minutes into his testimony to state budget writers Monday, Commissioner Mark Bodi made a glancing mention to what could prove the most conspicuous shift in state alcohol marketing policy since grocers were given permission to sell wine 30 years ago.

“The commission is currently reviewing how we might expand the sales of spirits specifically through greater agency store operations. However that review continues and I’m not in position today to offer any short estimates as to what the likely revenue from any expansion of agency stores would create.”

Outside the hearing room, Commissioner Bodi continued to play things pretty close to the vest. When asked for a ballpark notion of what state might gain by putting hard liquor in grocery stores, he said millions and left it at that. Bodi did say however, that new agency stores would be tailored to meet the needs of consumers and retailers alike.

“In areas where there are strong demands, grocery stores would have a significant number of spirit offerings. In areas where there is lower demand, you would have an opportunity for a small mom-and-pop store to add a few skews of vodka and bourbon as a convenience item.”