Treasured Valley

Archive for the ‘Booze’ Category

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Zane’s “Drinking Made Easy” comedy tour will be at the Knitting Factory tonight.

Boise Weekly story here.

It’s always nice to see the occasional rational decision made in the cluster that shapes Idaho politics. Of course, two people on the city council, Jim Blacker and Bob Sobba still don’t think that you, as an adult, are capable of deciding if you can have a Whiskey Sour on a Sunday afternoon at your local pub.

Check out the story at the Idaho Press-Tribune.

In short…not anytime soon, but it is something that is being looked at finally.

The state’s liquor dispensary was one of three areas that the Idaho Legislature’s Office of Performance Evaluation will look into next year after a recommendation from The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee – JLOC being the only evenly split legislative committee.

From the Idaho Statesman’s Idaho Politics Blog:

[...]

The audit of the state’s liquor monopoly was suggested by House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Maxine Bell, R-Jerome. Bell said she wants auditors to review the expansion of the Idaho State Liquor Division’s infrastructure, its management and operations. The review also would consider privatization of state liquor sales.

Werk said ISLD welcomes the review, including an opportunity to put to rest, one way or another, talk of privatization.

[...]

Idaho Reporter also had a story on the development:

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Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, said the state liquor division should be studied due to its recent expansion. “The growth continues, and there doesn’t seem to be any policy in this area,” she said. The $15 million in yearly funding for the liquor division comes from the profits on liquor sales, though the division’s budget is approved by lawmakers. Bell said the study would answer a key question: “Are we continuing to build this behemoth, and does this building outpace the funding?” she asked.

Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d’Alene, said he hopes OPE will examine whether Idaho should stop having state liquor stores. “Government is here to provide things that private enterprise can’t provide by itself,” Hammond said, also saying that other states allow private companies to distribute and sell liquor.

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Should the audit recommend that the state should relinquish government control over a decidedly private enterprise it should set up an interesting battle between Idaho’s Conservative legislators and legislators who favor the free-market. Whatever the outcome they need to rectify the fact that one can go to Costco in California and buy a half-gallon of Crown Royal for around $26, but the same half-gallon costs upwards of $54 in Idaho, which must be purchased at a state-run store.

Privatizing the the state’s liquor program would be an interesting and lengthy procedure. (If I’m wrong here, someone please correct me) Idaho’s Constitution would need to be amended, namely Section III Article 24 which states:

PROMOTION OF TEMPERANCE AND MORALITY. The first concern of all good government is the virtue and sobriety of the people, and the purity of the home. The legislature should further all wise and well directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality.

It’s an issue to keep your eye on, if you’re into that sorta thing.

OK, I’m not going to say that we have all been there, but I’m sure that the sizable chunk of us have had a weekend night or two where we’ve needed to…*ahem*…find some late night grub to put into our beer filled bellies. After I found out that Liquid’s new eatery, Solid is open late for revelers and that they serve fried chicken and waffles (an amazing combo, btw), it got me thinking about the best late night eats in the Treasure Valley.

Whether it’s the Pita Pita (free pita, ladies?), Pie Hole, the classic: Los Betos, Jack in the Box’s drive-thru or coffee at Denny’s, where do you get your late night grub? Do you head home (safely of course) and order in the kind of pizza that is only good after too much quaffing? Or do you head out to the joints that are open late night in a vain attempt to keep the night alive and feast upon alcohol soaking fried grub?

Where do you go? What do you order?

Today is National Margarita Day, so make something spicy for dinner, mix yourself up a margarita and celebrate the day appropriately and safely. Take a drink, close your eyes and think about how quickly summer will be upon us.

Tonight on your way home from work make sure you swing by the liquor store for some tequila and when you get home break out the blender if you prefer your margarita blended that is — I’ll take mine on the rocks, thank-you-very-much.

Or if you want to make it easy on yourself just hit up your favorite happy hour…and that being said…

Who makes the best margarita in town?

Hey, I guess at least you can say they were against government control of industry before they were for it.

KTRV Fox 12:

Value Liquor

It is not a secret; times are tough, and people are cutting back everywhere. However, there is one buy that isn’t being sacrificed: liquor. Idaho has now caught on to a new booze buying trend, and is making some changes. The bottom line is bottom shelf liquor, which is also known as value liquor.

We’ve all seen it: the 750 milliliter bottles of Popov, or good old Evan Williams. Some changes by the state Liquor Division mean those value bottles will now cost you 5% more.

[...]

This comes after Dyke Nally of the Idaho State Liquor Division said yesterday that he opposes privatizing the state’s control over liquor. I guess that whole tedious capitalism thingy-idea-ma-jig… it’s bad thing after all.

Quick fact for you: in California you can go to Costco and buy a half-gallon of Crown Royal for around $26 (give or take a few bucks, it’s been a while), here in Idaho, it’ll run you $57 and you have to buy it at a state-run liquor store. One state has a state controlled liquor system and one has a privatized system, I’ll let you guess which is which.

What irritates me is the hypocrisy of it, on one hand you have the legislature voting for a useless bill decrying government run health care (a bill which will needlessly cost the state money) and on the other hand the state is raising prices on a good that they won’t allow to be privatized and allow the free-market to dictate the price.

Just something to mull over when you’re sipping that Scotch at happy hour tonight.

Meant to get to this yesterday but I was unable to, so here are some reactions to this past Sunday, the first time in ages that citizens were allowed to buy liquor by-the-drink in Nampa on a Sunday.

• A toast to Sunday sales in Nampa. Nampa’s first Sunday of liquor-by-the-drink sales came and went on Jan. 31, heralded by news media across the Treasure Valley as a boon to business owners. According to reports, patrons happily bellied up for brunch-time Bloody Marys and quaffed pre-, intra-, and post-dinner spirits with little incident. This is good news.
• Sunday liquor sales excite Idaho business owners in Nampa. Nampa restaurant and bar owners are excited to start serving hard liquor on Sundays, hoping booze sales will boost their bottom lines. Restaurants and bars can start serving liquor by the drink in Idaho’s second-biggest city Sunday. The Nampa City Council voted 3-2 to lift a ban on Sunday by-the-drink sales in December.
• Nampa businesses abuzz about Sunday liquor sales. Restaurants and bars can start serving liquor by the drink in Idaho’s second-biggest city starting Sunday.
• Nampa restaurants and bars now able to serve hard liquor on Sunday. Restaurants and bars in Nampa can now sell hard liquor on Sundays beginning this Sunday. Last month, the Nampa City Council agreed to lift the city’s ban on Sunday liquor sales in restaurants and bars.
• Residents cheered the lifting of Nampa’s ban on Sunday sales of liquor by the drink. On Sunday, customers and managers alike cheered the lifting of Nampa’s ban on Sabbath sales of liquor by the drink.

Nampa businesses abuzz about Sunday liquor sales

from IS – Local News

NAMPA – Restaurants and bars can start serving liquor by the drink in Idaho’s second-biggest city starting Sunday.

It only took 3 years and Mayor Dale to cast a deciding vote, but now Nampa residents can go to their favorite eating or imbibing locations on Sundays and enjoy a cocktail as responsible adults.

• Idaho Press-Tribune: Nampa establishments gear up for Sunday liquor sales. Nampa bar and restaurant owners say Sunday liquor-by-the-drink sales — banned in Nampa until this coming Sunday — will serve as a much-needed economic boost. The Nampa City Council voted 3-2 to lift the ban, with Mayor Tom Dale casting the tie-breaking vote.

Read the whole story.

While Canyon County residents have been able to buy liquor by the bottle at state-run outlets since December of 2008 they have been unable to buy liquor-by-the-drink at restaurants or bars. Thus sending much needed tax dollars to neighboring Ada County.

Thankfully, Nampa City Council decided that I should be able to enjoy a margarita with my dinner should I choose too. Unfortunately two city council members, Martin Thorne and Stephen Kren don’t think that citizens should be able to make that decision for themselves — they would rather decide for them.