Under proposition 125, any store currently licensed to sell beer or other malt beverages, such as hard seltzers and lemonades, would automatically be allowed to start selling wine in March.
Currently, wine and other vinous liquors — wine coolers, sake, cider and mead — can only be sold at stores with a broader liquor license.
As of June 30, 2021, there were more than 1,800 licenses issued to sell beer and other malt beverages, each able to sell at an unlimited number of locations, that would be affected. Meanwhile, there were 26 grocery store licenses, each allowing the holder to sell wine at up to 8 locations, and nearly 1,600 liquor store licenses that permit sales at up to three locations each.
The proposition made the ballot through the petition process. It needs a simple majority of support from voters to pass.
The case for: Wouldn’t it be nice to pick up a bottle of wine at the same store you’re buying your dinner ingredients? Those stores are already allowed to sell beer, after all.
The case against: This would put local liquor stores up against national grocery and convenience store chains. It would also more than double the number of stores where wine can be sold, without additional oversight or community input.
Ballot question: “Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning the expansion of retail sale of alcohol beverages, and, in connection therewith, establishing a new fermented malt beverage and wine retailer license for off-site consumption to allow grocery stores, convenience stores, and other business establishments licensed to sell fermented malt beverages, such as beer, for off-site consumption to also sell wine; automatically converting such a fermented malt beverage retailer license to the new license; and allowing fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensees to conduct tastings if approved by the local licensing authority?”
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