OPINION & EDITORIAL
Pack attack
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by Badger Herald Editorial Board
Friday, April 11, 2008
Spring is in the air. The weather is warming up, Madison residents are repopulating the city’s parks, and local liquor licenses are up for renewal. What does all this mean for a pair of convenience stores in the Bassett neighborhood?
No more four-packs.
This week, Kelley’s Market on West Washington Avenue and Capitol Centre Market on North Broom Street were bullied into discontinuing the sale of cheap four-packs of beer once their current inventories run out. At stake if they didn’t halt sales was an automatic recall of their liquor licenses — at least if City Council President Mike Verveer, District 4, had his way.
According to Mr. Verveer, the sale of cheap brew — around two bucks for four cans of Pabst Schmidt Ice or Miller Steel Reserve — has been exacerbating the problem of a transient population, disrupting local residents’ enjoyment of nearby Brittingham Park. As a resident of the area himself, Mr. Verveer told The Capital Times he and his neighbors have stopped frequenting Kelley’s because of the local alcoholics hassling them for spare change.
While cleaning up the area and making Brittingham Park a comfortable place to visit for Madison residents is an admirable goal, it is not the responsibility of local businesses. Kelley’s and Cap Centre have a product to sell, and it is unfair for the city to pressure them into taking a profitable item off their shelves simply because of their proximity to hangouts popular among Madison’s transient population.
What’s more, we are unconvinced that putting a stop to the sale of cheap four-packs would have any impact on local panhandling and loitering in the area. If it is indeed the availability of cheap liquor keeping the local “alcoholics” around, what would stop them from pooling their funds or spending a couple extra hours working Brittingham Park to spring for a six-pack?
As for the potential loss of local residents as loyal customers, it may well be the case that catering to a transient crowd by selling four-packs fosters an uncomfortable environment. That might indeed cut into profits, but the decision to stop selling cheap beer should be solely up to the business.
Singling out a business and implying its liquor license might not be safe because its customer base includes local transients is not only unfair but misguided. Problems arising from homelessness in the area do need to be addressed but not by scapegoating local businesses.
Anonymous (April 11, 2008 @ 11:39am):
Wah wah wah...I bet none of you live in this neighborhood and have to deal with these people and the messes they leave everywhere on a daily basis. And think about it logically, Kelley's isn't losing money by stopping the sale of that cheap shit, if anything they'll make more money when the bums migrate and normal people come back to the store. It isn't unfair or misguided, it's a step in the right direction in cleaning up downtown.
Anonymous (April 11, 2008 @ 5:18pm):
I cannot wait to get away from the stupidity that is Madison, WI.
Anonymous (April 11, 2008 @ 5:30pm):
How dare Verveer interfere with the TRULY FREE MARKET!
Anonymous (April 11, 2008 @ 9:23pm):
I agree that these business shouldn't be pressured to stop selling 4-packs when there's no solid evidence that it exacerbates the transient problem.
However, do not underestimate the power of small changes. In the 1980's, addressing NYC's graffiti problem completely erased the city's violent crime problem. It's called the broken window theory. Eradicating the sale of 4-packs may very well reduce the number of transient alcoholics, and in turn improve local safety and consumers. If that's the case then I'm find with the injustice of asking a store not to sell a product!
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 9:16am):
Mike Verveer is probably the best advocate for Madison students anywhere. If he wants to try this, I'm willing to see if it can produce results.
Anonymous (April 18, 2008 @ 8:57pm):
FINALLY, a real solution , although, it might just happen that 3 guys get together and buy a 12 pack, witch would be econonmically advantegous to them ...
sheese, this measure will only fuel the problem!
its not hard to envision a secondary market in 4-packs, ... don't fret, this too could be regulated
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