Detriment to a healthy society
I would have to disagree with your editorial supporting the privatization of liquor sales [“Privatize liquor sales,” Opinion, Jan. 19].
Alcohol is a powerful influencing factor in all sorts of social pathologies: crimes — including violent crimes and sexual assaults — divorce and other bad human behavior. Anything that tends to increase alcohol consumption will automatically result in an increase in these social problems.
What we should be doing is asking ourselves: What can be done to reduce — as much as possible — the consumption of alcohol? This would result in a healthier society overall.
— Dan Hochberg, Seattle
Saves taxpayer money
I couldn’t agree more with your editorial on privatizing liquor sales in Washington state. Doing so would save untold millions.
No more state employees with their salaries, health care and pensions to pay for. No more buildings to lease, own or maintain. Let’s let the private sector pay these expenses.
The state would actually net more income on the liquor taxes alone without having personnel, payroll, building locations and other normal overhead to pay for.
— Wayne Jensen, Kirkland