Colorado bill could have full strength beer in convenient stores

The Colorado House Committee voted to pass a bill that would allow grocery and convenient stores to carry full strength beer instead of the 3.2 beer they sell now.

House Bill 1284 passed by a 7 to 6 vote proceeding for further debate to the Senate floor where it will be decided whether the law against selling full strength beer in stores will be lifted.

Being able to sell full strength beer in Colorado grocery stores is certainly more convenient for the consumer because all the shopping can be done in one place. There would be no more traveling to liquor stores to pick up alcohol and going to a Safeway or King Soopers to pick up snacks and food.

“Competition is good in any industry,” Larry Liston R-Colorado Springs said.

While competition and convenience are nice, people have to look at the big picture and weight the pros and cons that would come with the passing of this bill.

Whereas local stores like Bottles will sell micro and seasonal beers, places like Safeway and King Soopers will most likely stock the beer that is in high demand and can register a profit.

“I’m pretty sure that the grocery stores will not be carrying the selection that we carry here in the store,” owner of Bottles Larry Gray said. “Therefore breweries will have to produce less of that beer or produce only the beer that the grocery store wants to put on the shelf.”

Boulder breweries such and Avery and Boulder Beer will continue to be successful because convenient stores will pick up their trademark beers. However, they will not be able to put out the seasonal beers that many people enjoy in Boulder because the demand will not meet the supply.

No date has yet been determined for when the bill will be voted on by the United States Senate. If the bill does pass, it will take full effect in July 2012.