It's time to say NO to the State ABC Commission

The State ABC Commission wants authority to borrow $310 million dollars for a new warehouse. 

That’s a complete waste of money. The State ABC Board has failed miserably in demonstrating the need and has a terrible track record managing money. Why would you let them borrow $310 million to build a warehouse when they can’t get their operations working correctly right now?

In March, the Office of the State Auditor released a new performance audit of the ABC system’s warehouse and distribution systems that showed the state contractor responsible for the distribution of liquors failed to meet-on-time delivery targets. In 2018, the State Auditor released a report documenting more waste and mismanagement.  State Auditor Beth Wood said the State ABC Commission did not adequately monitor or administer its warehousing and distribution contract. Ms. Wood said the State ABC Commission wasted more than $11.3 million.  The report said the ABC Commission had a huge warehouse near Clayton that they failed to properly utilize. More waste and more mismanagement.

Here’s the bottom line: the state’s ABC system is a monopoly that has failed to keep pace with our state’s changing demographics and growing economy.  There is too much waste, corruption and cronyism in the current system.

Can we trust the State ABC Commission to effectively construct and administer a new warehouse facility?  The answer is a resounding NO. Borrowing $310 million will drive up the cost of your spirits and won’t improve the delivery of service for the hospitality industry. This is just another example of wasteful spending – directed by a monopoly that is overdue for accountability and change.

We can save the $310 million by modernizing our state’s liquor laws – looking to the private sector to better serve and manage sales and distribution of spirits. Why should we borrow money to pay for a distribution system that is already in place in the private sector?  It’s time to say NO to the State ABC Commission.