The Alcoholic Beverage Control Agency here in Arkansas may decide to let Walmart sell beer and wine. It’s not surprising that there has been some protest about this move.
Walmart publicly applied for the license to sell beer and wine in Boone County, and the protests started immediately. Highlighted in a news article on May 14, 2011 was a well-written letter from a Mr. Darvin Adams which was received before the Agency made it’s final decision.
Mr. Michael Langley, the Alcoholic Beverage Control director, said the board will consider any opposition that comes that is based on public health and safety but not anything that is based on just wanting to get rid of alcohol, period.
There are so many reasons that could be listed, but let’s start with Mr. Adams’ first ones. First of all, it has been against the law for people under 18, or in some places under 21, to work at any establishment that sells beer and wine or other liquor. Does this mean that no 16 and 17 year olds will be able to work at Walmart anymore? This seems a bit unfair. Secondly, Mr. Adams pointed out that it’s against the law to sell liquor and pharmaceuticals in the same establishment. Lots of people go to Walmart for their prescriptions – so shouldn’t that make it against the law for beer and wine to be sold there?
Aside from that, Walmart has always tried to market itself as a family-oriented store. Is it really more important to them to get a piece of the alcoholic beverage market than to consider how this is going to make a lot of their shoppers feel? There are a lot of people who for religious reasons do not drink alcohol and a lot of them also refuse to eat in restaurants or shop in establishments that sell alcohol. Has Walmart considered this, or do they figure they will come out ahead because of those who will be happy for the convenience of buying yet another staple of their diet? Now they can buy milk, eggs, bread, spaghetti sauce, WD-40 oil, a new outfit, a pair of shoes, and booze all in one shot. (OK, pun intended.)
How family-oriented is the promotion of a vice that ends up destroying so many families, anyway? It will be interesting to see if it goes through and booze becomes available at Walmart.
