If enacted, SB033 would allow retail liquor stores to sell certain minimally processed food items—specifically fruits, vegetables, nuts, and meats—without these sales contributing to the gross revenue calculation that restricts their nonalcohol sales. This change is significant as it enables liquor stores to diversify their product offerings and potentially increase their overall sales, which could have implications for competition with grocery and convenience stores.
Summary
Senate Bill 033 (SB033) proposes amendments to the regulation of retail liquor stores in Colorado, specifically concerning the sale of nonalcohol products. Under current law, retail liquor stores are limited in the amount of nonalcohol products they may sell, with a maximum threshold set at 20% of their total annual gross sales revenues. This bill seeks to broaden the types of food items these stores can sell without having their revenue counted against this limit.
Contention
The bill may spark debate over its potential impact on the retail landscape, as proponents argue it could provide consumers with more options and help struggling liquor stores increase competitiveness. Conversely, there may be concerns about how this could affect traditional grocery businesses, which might view the move as undercutting their market share. Moreover, the regulatory adjustments could be seen as allowing liquor stores to step further into the food sales space, raising questions about the adequacy of existing safety and health regulations for food sold in such establishments.