washingtonstatewire.com

So the voters of the state finally up and did it.

They took liquor retailing away from themselves (the people of the state) and gave it to the likes of Costco and Safeway.

I for one will miss the state liquor stores, which will be closed or auctioned off to private operators some time next year.

In a modern marketing world where everything was loud and flashy and out to sell-sell-sell, this was one major retail chain out not to promote its wares, but to control their sale.

The stores were mostly no-frills operations, with modest signage and minimalist interior decor.

The employed unionized clerks, whose job was to facilitate sales, not to increase them.

In most years, they generated at least enough revenue to pay for the state’s alcohol treatment and anti-drunk-driving programs.

But their main function was service, not sales.

(Booze For People, Not For Profit.)

They showed by example that consumer goods can be distributed without excess hype, and without the secular religion of excess consumption.