The proposal would have eliminated $200 million a year in liquor revenue for state, local and mental health budgets
Portland, Ore. – Corporate grocers announced today that they will drop their initiative petition to privatize Oregon’s liquor sales.
“We are pleased the national grocers have decided to withdraw their unpopular ballot initiative to take over Oregon’s thriving liquor marketplace,” said Ryan Frank, spokesman for Oregonians Against the Takeover. “Keeping liquor local will protect revenues that support critical government services, will ensure consumers are not subjected to unreasonable price increases and will allow Oregon beer, wine and spirits businesses to continue to succeed and grow. Consistently, polls show that Oregonians support the current liquor market and believe privatization is a solution in search of a problem. While improvements to any marketplace are always worth considering, putting Oregon’s current system – and the revenues it generates for important services — at risk in order to benefit a single industry is neither good policy nor good politics.”
For additional background, please visit KeepLiquorLocal.com
