What is Digg?108 Comments
- cyborgbill, on 01/06/2009, -0/+36Everything he says is true. The markups are unbelievable. And having distributors means companies like Budweiser and Miller have less to manage but can keep the price fairly high. Its a win win situation for them. The ones who really get the shaft are retailers and consumers.
- cawpin, on 01/06/2009, -0/+23As a current resident of Arizona, I couldn't agree more. The entire alcohol distribution network inside Arizona flows through two families, one being that of McCain's wife the Hensleys (That's where the money came from). Any alcohol that comes into the state is required to go through one of their networks to be imported. That means we can't mail order anything without a second markup. Hopefully, somebody will challenge the law since a similar one was recently overturned in Michigan.
- spritom, on 01/07/2009, -0/+21"In Massachussets the top 4 wholesalers have 65.3% of the market"
That's over 130 proof! - douggmc, on 01/07/2009, -1/+22Thats funny .. your current girlfriend says the same thing about me.
- chrisaug18, on 01/06/2009, -0/+18You think you have it bad? Come on up to Canada!
- mwalker05, on 01/06/2009, -0/+15its true. but microbreweries are quickly growing. legislation should be passed to encourage their growth so they can sell their beer for less. i couldnt see all of the video. anybody have a mirror?
- eastwood24, on 01/07/2009, -2/+16The American way is no longer capitalism, but rather corporatism (wiki it) and the alcohol industry is just more proof.
- BabaRamDass, on 01/06/2009, -0/+12Life destroys the body eventually.
- bartofdahammer, on 01/06/2009, -0/+10***** right, $37.50 for a 24 of Canadian.
$25 for a 26er of pretty much any liquor - sully213, on 01/06/2009, -0/+10So I wonder if Pennsylvania is immune to this? In PA, there is only 1 distributor, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (i.e., the state itself). That distributor also runs the only licensed retailer of wine and spirits in the state, hence why "The Wine & Spirit Shoppe" is also commonly referred to as "The State Store". So if there is only 1 distributor, who is also the retailer, do we only have one markup? I've always had mixed feeling about the state being the sole controller of the liquor and wine distribution in the state. It's hard to know if we're actually getting a good deal because of the "buying power of the entire state as a whole" (at least that's what they tell us) or are we being blindly ripped off through the lack of competition?
I paid $16.99 for a 750ml bottle of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum over New Year's. Can anyone chip in the price of the same in their area so we can compare and I can see if Pennsylvanians are being cheated or treated? Thanks! - akchrs, on 01/07/2009, -0/+10It is for you. But when you become an adult it will be legal.
- DonWigler, on 01/07/2009, -2/+11This is what many people don't understand. It's not the government vs. big business like people on the left and right seem to think. It's big business manipulating a government with too much power to entrench itself and hurt the consumer. The remedy, eliminate the government power so no one can manipulate it.
- UnrulyFellows, on 01/07/2009, -1/+10Government rewards their friends and punishes their enemies. Protection for profits.
- Frankyfan3, on 01/06/2009, -1/+10Cannabis, if ingested through a vaporizer or eaten does not destroy anything in your body as much as alcohol does.
There is evidence it has antibacterial properties, not to mention the complete lack of a risk of LETHAL overdoses that alcohol offers.
But it's illegal because "It will make white women go to bed with Negros"
-Harry Anslinger, testifying on the floor of congress about the devil's weed, ostensibly to keep his job and his colleagues employed after the demise of the temperance movement.
I have seen far more lives ruined by alcohol than I have seen them ruined by cannabis... unless the unjust and inequitable laws of prohibition come into play.
But if I get drunk in my home and the cops find vodka, there's nothing for them to do unless I'm violent or threatening.
If they find a bong or some weed, nobody is being threatened and no other crimes are in progress, I can still be arrested, possibly loosing my house, all my property, my rights to vote and move about the world freely all revoked because of a plant... one of human kind's most useful and historically sacred plants.
Sure, make sense. /s - oxdeltaxo, on 01/06/2009, -0/+8Of all the negatives associated with alcohol you resorted to the liver?
- Rapheal99, on 01/06/2009, -0/+8Seriously.
Up here in the barren northlands, It's 18$ for a mickey of smirnoff. That's ***** ridiculous. - DarkStar3333, on 01/07/2009, -0/+8I cant believe you actually DRINK Canadian. Pay the extra $5 and actually go for something good.
- bigp3rm, on 01/06/2009, -2/+9A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of trying mead for the 1st time. It was a honey mead and was the most wonderful alcoholic beverage I have ever had. It had the consistency of a white wine but was a little thicker. It even smells a bit like wine.
A friends friend makes it and it takes about 6 months for the whole process to be completed. If you ever get a chance grab you a mouth full you will love it. - ripple123, on 01/07/2009, -0/+7seriously. is there any good reason why we havent systematically executed all lobbyists yet?
- Soniti, on 01/07/2009, -0/+7@dougmc:
JOKE'S ON YOU *****- I DON'T HAVE A GIRLFRIE-
Aww *****. - BotaXero, on 01/06/2009, -0/+7So does the air we breath.
- tgc1, on 01/07/2009, -1/+8What we're seeing here, time and time again, is big business lobbies who effectively buy the government and the government then hands them a monopoly position in the market. Often by introducing new legislation to enforce and protect such a racket.
See: Telecommunications, Alcohol, Tobacco, Defense Contracts, etc... - donnikhan, on 01/07/2009, -1/+7I PAID $25 FOR THAT IN RHODE ISLAND AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET LAID!!!!
- DarthNihilist, on 01/07/2009, -0/+6your opinion should be illegal.
- inactive, on 01/07/2009, -0/+6nah
- Square47, on 01/07/2009, -0/+5Its like Frankyfan went to weed college or something. I guess we can label this as weed > alcohol argument # eleventy billion. I think Digg is a bit like preaching to the choir on this argument. Although when I was in High school and stopped smoking weed and started drinking, I went from a C/D grade average to honor roll. So I can't say alcohol doesn't have its merits personally but that is just anecdotal.
- starmanfalls, on 01/07/2009, -0/+5It was. Did not work out too well though. Weed is still against the law. And it is working out just about the same as booze, but for much much longer. And more damage to freedom in our country.
- Frankyfan3, on 01/07/2009, -0/+5akchrs:
The antibacterial properties I'm speaking of refer to it's ability to aid our own immune system against fighting bacteria already in our system. I don't have time to locate this study right now, but I'm pretty sure I've seen more than one article about this on Digg.
Nobody has studied the usefulness of cannabis in the realm of surface-cleaning as far as I'm aware, but I do know I would prefer neither vodka meant for drinking, or cannabis when attacking a public restroom's dirtiness... there are far better (and cheaper) compounds available to use for this purpose.
Your comment was nonsensical and useless. - LaXXPlaya911, on 01/07/2009, -0/+5PA's alcohol distribution sucks, the main reason being you cant be alcohol in grocery stores or gas stations or anything else because the state would lose money
- MAARRS, on 01/07/2009, -1/+6Of course bootlegging is patriotic!
Joe Kennedy was the biggest bootlegger in the 1920's. His empire fueled a political dynasty that continues today. Not to mention making him a Hollywood player.
Camelot my drunken ass... - xaxxon, on 01/07/2009, -0/+5No, this isn't the no alcohol on Sunday issue. This is just plain big business. No religion about it. They wouldn't care if they were shipping lead-laced mercury. As long as they make money.
Definitely not WWJD. - civilunrest, on 01/07/2009, -0/+5Exactly. In many cases big businesses welcome the costly regulations making it harder for competition to enter the market.
- HappyScrappy, on 01/07/2009, -1/+5Did you just compare paying a little extra to get intoxicated to enslavement?
- airwalkery2k, on 01/07/2009, -0/+4All I know is it is ***** that you can't legally buy a microbrew in one state and bring it back to your home in a different state.
- bobjrn2, on 01/07/2009, -0/+4How else are companies to capitalistically compete for government monopolized contracts? The lobbyist aren't the problem, it is the reason they exist that is the problem. And the reason they exist is because the government has too much power and is ruining capitalism with communism.
- xaxxon, on 01/07/2009, -0/+4there was a law enacted about that recently, I think. It also included a 10% tax reduction for lobbyists and congressmen.
- Linake, on 01/07/2009, -0/+4...and we can't just buy beer at the corner store up here! You'd think if ANYWHERE Canada would be the place to buy beer where ever you go.
- DLPizzle, on 01/07/2009, -0/+4Wow, you guys all brew mead too! Small world...
- BelatedHero, on 01/07/2009, -0/+4It's amazing how these few alcohol distributors, with the laws the way they are, basically have licenses to print money. And their business model is incredibly secure considering how difficult it is to get even the simplest of alcohol-related laws changed (at least, that's the case here in ***** Kentucky).
- phintch, on 01/07/2009, -0/+3Who says Mickey?
- alexkapone, on 01/07/2009, -0/+3I don't think you can make comparisons across state lines because some states give counties more power. I know in Montgomery County, MD, where I live, the county owns all retail operations that sell hard liquor. Neighboring PG county on the other hand has its privatized system which used to be quite liberal. (I remember people would travel from all over the dc metro area to a (formerly) 24 hr liquor joint in PG county in a particularly bad neighborhood near the University of Maryland, College Park Campus.)
Anyways I'm thinking that in more densely populated states the county has more power. Just a guess... - amy31415, on 01/07/2009, -0/+3Moonshine, my little pumpkins. It started NASCAR during prohibition, who knows what bootlegging II could start?
- Abomonog, on 01/07/2009, -0/+3Most state laws prohibit microbreweries to even exist. A few states prohibit even the private brewing of beer. In fact most of the eastern seaboard outlaws any kind of home brewing (microbrewing) or distilling with most handing out 5 year plus prison sentences for doing so. On top of that there has been a 20 year long push to require special licensing to brew. Licensing of the type only a major corporation could afford. The only reason it hasn't succeeded is that we haven't had a president with ties to the brewers since Carter. Microbreweries are treading on thin ice in America and the flow is not going their way.
- iwillhackyou, on 01/07/2009, -0/+3think about it, if moonshine started NASCAR do we really want to see what it could start agin?
- evilbob333, on 01/07/2009, -0/+3Gee...I wish we had a constitutionally limited government that had a lassie faire approach to the mark, and didn't pick winners and losers.....No really I do.
- Cerebron, on 01/07/2009, -0/+3Pumpkin moonshine? Hmmm...
- MAARRS, on 01/07/2009, -1/+4So...it's this failed rotten system where they lie to us about our 'freedom'?
or it's indentured slavery?
thankfully, real patriots think differently. - katieedwards, on 01/07/2009, -0/+3'cept quebec!
- exonyte, on 01/07/2009, -1/+4since when is quebec a part of Canada?
- mtdshn, on 01/07/2009, -0/+3Further still are the issues that retailers have to deal with, especially the "mom and pop" stores. The thing about the big box places like Wal-Mart or CVS (or back in the day, Walgreen's) is that they had the corporate bankroll to take part in distributor sales that happen every month. Say one distributor has a deal on Captain Morgan, where you buy 10 cases for the regular price but you get the next 5 cases for a certain amount off. This is no small purchase even for the big stores but they often take them up on the deal and then in turn still sell it to the customer at the regular price and reap the profits. The mom and pop stores on the other hand can't afford such a deal and have to pass it up. It's a lost chance to bring in more profits for the small stores.
In addition to this is the problem with two or more distributors carrying the same exact product, which is a big no-no. One distributor may sell a product to a retailer for one price but another distributor sells it to another for a cheaper price. The distributor who sells it for more is more than likely the one filing the suit in court to block the cheaper distributor from selling it. It would be like two companies selling Kraft. Oftentimes it's the retailer who gets hurt in the process as they obviously don't want to spend more than they have to and go with the cheaper distributor. It's a screwed up process and really needs to be reevaluated. -
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