SCRANTON TIMES LEADER Editorial: …A draft plan circulated this week ignores some of the key problems with the booze monopoly, and would retain much of it. Rather than turning over the alcoholic beverage industry to the private sector and limiting the state to its legitimate roles of regulation and enforcement, the Senate plan would pander to private interests.
For example, it would allow beer distributors and tavern owners to sell wine by the bottle, thus putting the retail wine business in the hands of people who might know less about it than even state government clerks.
And when lawmakers announce that the public trough is open, all sorts of special interests belly up: The proposal also would allow casinos to sell alcoholic beverages until 4 a.m. rather than 2 a.m… (more)
