The Idaho Liquor Division has dropped, for the time being, a request that would have allowed in-store sampling at state liquor stores.
The request, originally submitted to Governor Butch Otter’s office for legislative consideration, has been withdrawn due to lack of information. The proposed legislation would have allowed liquor distributors to provide small liquor samples to customers inside State Liquor stores, in hopes of encouraging them to buy more expensive products.
Dyke Nally, the director of the Idaho Liquor Division, isn’t dropping the idea altogether, but plans to watch and study as other states implement similar programs over the coming year. Oregon and Pennsylvania are two states that plan to offer sampling in state liquor stores in the upcoming year, though Nally believes only Oregon is worth watching.
“Pennsylvania is ahead of us technologically as far as liquor goes,” Nally said. “We are more like Oregon in this area, so we plan on watching them over the next year and see how they do with it. “
Sampling could lead to higher revenues for the state, Nally believes. He wants to introduce people who usually purchase cheaper liquor to some of the “higher-end product.” His believes those patrons who sample the “good stuff” will favor the more pricy liquor over a $10 bottle of scotch.
“We want people to buy more expensive and better liquor, not more liquor,” said Nally. “We’re still here to promote temperance.”
The samples would be very small, with patrons being limited to 3 samples at any one store. It is estimated the total amount of liquor consumed by one person would be less than half an ounce.
“It’s would not be enough to get anyone intoxicated, not even close,” said Nally. “It would be just enough to get some taste on your tongue.”
The proposition wouldn’t cost the state anything, since the sampling would be the sole financial responsibility of the distributors. The store staff, however, would be required to ensure customers taking the samples were of legal age.
The stores, and ultimately the state, would have been able to reap the benefits of the more expensive purchases. Idaho requires all vendors and distributors to pay all revenues from the sale of their products directly to the state in accordance Title 23-407 of the Idaho Code. All revenue contributed to the state liquor fund is used to support the Substance Abuse Treatment Fund and the Drug and Mental Health Court Supervision Fund.
Nally says he plans to propose the legislation next again next year, but only if he is able to monitor Oregon’s program for one year and deem it successful.
Why is the State of Idaho in the Liquor business in the first place?
This is the perfect opportunity to facilitate getting the state out of the retail liquor business. Other states seem to manage this without having a “liquor dispensary” with all the employees, retail locations and overhead costs we have in Idaho.
We should be able to go down to the local Albertson’s, Walmart, Costco or other retail establishment and buy our liquor.
This is something that should be relegated to the free market place to accomplish. Where is the value added when the state runs this segment of liquor sales?