Judge's Ruling Would Let Texas Consumers Buy Booze From Walmart And Costco

[TexasTowelie]

A protectionist Texas law that has kept Walmart, Costco and other giant retailers from selling hard liquor was found unconstitutional by a federal judge this week, prompting cheers from free-market advocates — and vows of a quick appeal from one of the parties on the losing side.

The Texas law that was struck down — unique in the United States — forbids publicly traded businesses from owning liquor stores while allowing family-owned companies to grow into giant chains without fear of competition from large national or international corporations.

If the late Tuesday ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman survives appeals, Texas consumers — like those in at least 31 other states and many foreign countries — will be able to buy vodka, tequila and bourbon from Walmart-owned stores and from other multinational retailer outlets.

“For decades, these laws have stood in stark contrast to Texas values,” said Travis Thomas, spokesman for Texans for Consumer Freedom, which advocates for free-market reforms in Texas. “The State of Texas should not pick winners and losers in private industry.”

Read more: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/03/21/274456/judges-ruling-would-let-texas-consumers-buy-booze-from-walmart-and-costco/

[Jmonday]

1. Sigh

"A protectionist Texas law"......First sentence .Seems the university of Houston is pretty clear where they stand on this issue.Is this a news piece or editorial? Anyway, I suppose if saving a few bucks on your booze purchases is crucial, then you probably won't mind if your neighborhood liquor store joins the ranks of all the extinct small business crushed by wal mart. That part of the equation doesn't even rate a mention here. What kind of person thinks these giant corporate entities are good for society? Or is it that Capitalism MUST BE UNFETTERED! no matter how many ways this just bad for the world.

[Fla Dem]

5. The problem is there already aren't a lot of small neighborhood liquor stores.

Here in FL, most large grocery stores already have liquor stores, Publix and Winn-Dixie. You can get wine in CVS and Walgreen's. What stand alone liquor stores there are are chains, ABC Liquor Stores. I don't think I've seen a stand alone liquor store since I moved here 20 years ago.

[braddy]

2. Just like in California now.

[efhmc]

3. The first time this Texas girl went to California and did food

shopping, I was amazed to find hard liquor in the GROCERY store. I was in my 50's at the time.

[braddy]

4. I'm a Texan myself but have spent decades in California, grocery store booze surprised me also.