hopkinton-independent-logo2x
Hopkinton, MA
loader-image
Hopkinton, US
4:15 pm, Saturday, November 2, 2024
temperature icon 52°F
Humidity 60 %
Wind Gust: 6 mph

SIGN UP TODAY!
BREAKING NEWS & DAILY NEWSLETTER





Letter to the Editor: Local retailer supports yes vote on Question 3

by | Oct 28, 2022 | Letter to Editor

The proponents of Question 3 are a grassroots group of liquor stores, supermarkets and convenience store owners and employees trying to get the word out on a limited budget. Your help and support are greatly appreciated and needed. Please vote yes on Question 3!

The opposition to Question 3 is funded by just one out-of-state big box retailer to the tune of $2.25 million! Massachusetts Fine Wine & Spirits LLC = Total Wine & More. Total Wine has over 220 superstores in 27 states.
Don’t be fooled by their ads, they are not trying to save your local store!

Question 3 expands the number of beer and wine licenses and caps the number of full liquor licenses an individual can own. It does not create any new licenses that are available locally. The new configuration would still represent the most licenses allowed amongst the 23 similar three-tier states.

Question 3 would prohibit self-checkout of alcohol at supermarkets and other stores. It’s not just about carding but identifying intoxicated people and stopping second-party sales. You can’t buy cigarettes, prescription drugs or cannabis at a self-checkout station, nor should alcohol be allowed.

Question 3 will increase fines and penalties if a store sells alcohol to minors or for other infractions. These penalties are based on gross sales, which will result in higher fines for multi-channel box retail that are comparable to those of a single-channel alcohol retailer. The fines should be just as punitive for big box stores as they are for small stores. These higher fines will signal to box store retail how important it is to accept responsibility when selling alcohol.

Question 3 would allow out-of-state IDs to be used when purchasing alcohol, which will help our tourism industry. It may sound unbelievable, but a retailer, restaurant or bar is not legally allowed to accept an out-of-state driver’s license for the purchase of alcohol. We are the only state in the United States that does not allow this. By the way, cannabis dispensaries can accept out-of-state IDs.

That’s it, nothing more. This initiative was designed to be a common-sense compromise that updates Massachusetts liquor laws in a manner in which everyone will have a even playing field to compete! Question 3 is a win-win.

Your local retailer asks you to vote yes on 3.

— Ryan Maloney, owner, Julio’s Liquor Store

Editor’s note: The opinions and comments expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Independent. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and must include the writer’s name and contact information for verification. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event or thanking sponsors or volunteers. Letters may be edited by the Independent staff for space, errors or clarification, and the Independent offers no guarantee that every letter will be published. For a schedule of deadlines for letters and other submissions for the print edition, click here.

0 Comments

Related Articles

Letter to the Editor: Civil for Governor’s Council

I am writing to ask for your support for Tamisha Civil for Governor’s Council in this year’s election. As many of you know, Tamisha and I were competitors in the primary, and it was my privilege to get to know Tamisha in that process. She is smart, dedicated and...

Letter to the Editor: Bring back old Main Street

OK, guys, let’s end this engineering and construction practice downtown and give us our old Main Street back! Also, are the light structures going to need repainting every two years? (Lowest bid, I guess.) — Bill and Alice Hamilton, Hopkinton Editor’s note: The...

Letter to the Editor: Town must balance character, finances

Every time a potential zoning change comes before the town, I see a letter or two accusing town officials of “catering to developers” and “destroying the character of our town.” Our town does have an idyllic rural character that we would like to preserve. Our...

Letter to the Editor: No gas station in area zoned agricultural

We are writing in opposition to the 290 West Main Street project, which proposes a gas station at the intersection of West Main Street and School Street. The character of our neighborhood is at stake as well as the character of the town! Consistent with the...

Letter to the Editor: Town committees shouldn’t cater to developers

Since 1965, the zoning at Main Street and School Street as well as Hayward and South Street has remained unchanged, preserving the character of these areas. Yet, recent actions by the Board of Appeals and the Zoning Advisory Committee suggest that they cater to...

Key Storage 4.14.22