Wisconsin GOP lawmaker proposes bill to allow stores to give free samples of liqour...

[TheMightyFavog]

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20120208/GPG0101/120208091/Bill-liquor-sampling-stores-gains-support?odyssey=mod|defcon|text|FRONTPAGE

MADISON — A bill that would allow Wisconsin residents to sample mini-shots of liquor at retail stores is gaining public support.

Several groups and businesses gave testimony in support of the measure at a state Assembly committee hearing Wednesday. The proposal which would allow retail outlets to offer samples of half an ounce of liquor. Up to three small liquor samples would be allowed at one time, which is equivalent to one shot. Wisconsin residents can already sample beer and wine at retail stores.

Republican Rep. Joel Kleefisch of Oconomowoc says the bill will help liquor stores with their business by exposing customers to new products. Critics say the bill could hurt business for wholesale distributors.

[Brickbat]

1. My muni gives samples.

[shraby]

2. And I was under the impression that drinking and driving is frowned on by lawmakers.

The penalties for doing it are onerous enough.

[izquierdista]

4. Not the ones that approve drive-thru windows at liquor stores

If that idea scares you, stay away from New Mexico.

[Irishonly]

11. I was shocked the first time I saw one of those

I moved there from Iowa where you had to go to a state sponsered liquor store.

That being said the GOP has lost its mind.

[NAO]

3. The real issue is, can they serve free liquor in gun shops?

You know, the rethugs have made it legal to have guns in bars (a brilliant idea, what could possibly go wrong?) so I guess it's only logical to serve alcohol in gun stores.

[pinboy3niner]

6. Or gun samples in liquor stores?

[yourout]

5. While they are at it how about they let the pushers give out free heroin samples.

[cthulu2016]

7. I support this

If a thing is legal it is legal.

Say I run a liquor store. I get in a bottle of an exotic new liquor. I think people would like it. I want to promote sales of it.

And who in their right mind is going to pay $30 bucks or whatever for some new liquor they've never heard of?

The argument that liquor stores might get customers drunk is hilarious... that's what liquor stroes do... they get their customers drunk.

So, as the old joke goes, we are litererally just talking about price.

The idea that one cannot give away (to a legal recipient) what they may legally sell is nuts.

[LoveIsNow]

8. What's wrong with that?

It's no different from sampling wine. My go-to liquor store does tastings and I didn't know other states didn't allow it. It would kind of suck to have nothing to go on but the bottle label. They give you tiny shots and only let you try a few (it would be pretty bad business to get people drunk for free), so I don't see the problem.

[The Genealogist]

9. And then what, set up a sobriety checkpoint at the exits from the parking lot?

Drinking and driving is bad. How does this do anything but encourage it? Or are you supposed to take a designated driver to the liquor store, if you want a sample?

[Ohio Dem]

12. A shot isn't going to get anybody drunk.

I see nothing wrong with this idea. I wish Ohio had free samples. It would've saved me from buying many six-packs of expensive but bad beer, many bottles of wine I didn't like, and the occasional "what the Hell, I'll try it" bottle of liquor.

[MrSlayer]

10. Wow. A Republican idea I like.

Will wonders ever cease?