Those states with private packies with licensing fees and liquor taxes have cheaper prices

but also some instances of corruption as owners bribe regulators to get the license or to prevent potential competitors from getting a license.

Beer and wine outlets in Va. have licenses which get suspended or revoked for sales to minors and other infractions.  Beer and wine have higher volume than hard liquor.  So, if there has been no extensive instances of corruption related to beer and wine vendors in Va., maybe there is less risk of corruption in private sales of hard liquor.

So go ahead privitize hard liquor sales; just make sure the licensing isn't perverted to become a barrier to entry or an invitation to corruption.  

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by: martinlomasney @ Thu Aug 27, 2009 at 11:43:59 AM CDT

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Privatizing them sounds good

until you realize that you're getting a one-time shot of $500 million that gives up the current $100 million a year profit stream.  That's a P/E of 5, and who would sell or a stock when you're making that?  

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by: notjohnsmosby @ Thu Aug 27, 2009 at 16:39:47 PM CDT

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