Buying beer may become E-Zier

December 31, 2008 11:20 am · By Wiff Rightly · 6 Comments

What would you say if I told you that before too long, you might be able to get your gas and beer in one stop? I’m not sure what you think but, as a beer guy, I’m a fan of the concept.

The Northwest Arkansas Times is reporting that four E-Z Mart stores have applied for a retail beer permit that would allow them to sell beer in their store. Currently, there are no convenience stores in the Fayetteville that sell beer or liquor and the four E-Z Marts, if issued the permit, will be the first.

Fayetteville Police Chief Greg Tabor opposes granting the stores a permit for “a host of reasons.” Tabor’s chief concern is that the stores might not be as careful about checking id’s as a liquor store would be because it’s not their main source of income, merely a small part of their overall revenue. He feels that if they lost their license, it wouldn’t be a huge detriment to the store and therefore the checking of id’s might be relatively lax when compared to liquor stores who would go out of business if they lost their license.

Tabor makes some good points but, all-in-all, I doubt it will be enough to prevent the stores from obtaining their permit. I’ve been wrong (on rare occasions) in the past, though.

According to the article, ABC Division Director Michael Langley rejects most retail beer permits in cases when a local police chief takes a stance against the permit. When this happens, the permits are sent to the ABC board for approval.

Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, the city of Fayetteville had an ordinance that banned convenience and grocery stores from carrying and selling beer. The ordinance was later repealed because the attorney general believed that the city could not pass such a law.

No word as to when we expect the verdict from the ABC Division Director, but I hope sure that it comes to pass. It certainly would be nice to fill up my gas tank and my cooler in one stop.

[Via NWA Times]

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Schleuss
December 31, 2008

This is awesome! Coming from Louisiana where you can go through a drive-thru for daiquiris it blew my mind that Fayetteville only sold beer 6 days a week in Liquor stores. Hahzah!

Ben Scott
December 31, 2008

That’s the one thing I miss about living in Fort Smith. Being able to pick up a sixer at your nearest grocery or convenient store was sooo nice..

Bob-O
January 1, 2009

I think it is a supreme farce when a mere Chief of Police is allowed to influence the A.B.C. to this level. Me thinks the strongarm influence comes from elsewhere (the liquor store cartel) but I digress.

I remember well my first weekend in Fayetteville when I went to search for beer. At the drugstore? No. At the grocery store? No. At the closest “Stop n’ Rob” (slang for a convenience store)? No. On the third stop I was informed that I had to find a liquor store.

So, the Chief of Police allegedly reasons that the owners of convenience stores will not be diligent to verify the legal age of beer purchasers since it will not be an important source of revenue for them? Hooie! What type of goods and merchandise do these stores presently sell? Gasoline, tobacco products, snacks, and lest I forget, funky air fresheners you can use to “pimp” your ride. They certainly do not sell enough groceries to keep the lights switched on. In places where such stores are allowed to sell beer, it is a very important source of revenue for them. I can certainly see why the store operators want a piece of this market-so let them have it.

I have a proposal for the Chief as well as the owners of the convenience stores that presents an undeniable win-win solution: The store owners agree to maintain a free supply of fresh doughnuts and coffee as a gesture of goodwill to the policemen who drop by, and the increased police presence assures the public (as well as the Chief and the A.B.C.) that the puchase of beer by those of less than legal age will not occur.

See, it can be done! Beer can be sold in convenience stores! Cheaper beer for eveyone! Policemen will be able to enjoy doughnuts on a regular basis, much happier, and not hassling creative drivers! Those underaged sinners who have the intent to purchase beer will not be able to commit this crime! We who sin can obtain most of our sinning supplies at one convenient place. I don’t know about the rest of you, but think that places a big capital “C” in the expression Convenience Store!