Concerning Virginia selling its ABC stores, I regret that my friend Dan Pope evidently does not understand the basic law of merchandising, which is “the greater the distribution of the product, the greater the sale of that product” [“State should sell ABC stores,” Virginia Baptist Forum, Sept. 16].
This privatization would increase liquor outlets from about 300 to about 1,000. And thus we would have more sales, more drinking, more drinking and driving, more crime and corruption, more availability to minors, more family and social problems, etc.
It has not been proven that we will have much more net tax money by retail sales because the state over years would lose profits on the sales. We would need more law enforcement for the retail stores which have been motivated by the profit element.
The purpose of the law is not to make people righteous but to protect its citizens and hold the damage to a minimum. It is true that the 18th Amendment showed us any democracy can’t have a law that is strongly opposed or unpopular by most of the people. Many people are opposed to prohibition by law, but every law is a prohibition law, from crime to traffic lights.
It is true retail sales will be in line but while beer has 5 percent alcohol and wine has 14 percent, whiskey has 40 to 50 percent alcohol. We claim “candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker,” and because of the high alcohol content, it must be controlled.
The whole matter concludes, why not stick to the tried and true? No state has had, since the Civil War, any more honest government than has Virginia. Other states can say we’re dumb, but they could not say that we have been dishonest. It is true that the state does not sell furniture, etc., but there is no alcohol in furniture.
I would be the first to admit that alcohol can be used correctly, but it all boils down to the question — who can best control it? The state or private enterprise motivated by the profit element?
Henry V. Langford, Richmond, Va.