Alcoholic beverage control state 2689389 225536544 2008-07-14T05:18:03Z 142.59.225.82 /* State listing */ {{Nofootnotes|date=February 2008}} <!-- Please note: This article does not constitute copyright infringement because it's based on information in my website, to which I hold copyright. Thanks, [[User:David Justin|David Justin]] 15:50, 16 September 2005 (UTC) --> [[Image:US States by alcohol control.svg|right|thumb|'''Map of Alcoholic Beverage Control States, current as of February 2006.''']] '''Alcoholic beverage control states''', generally called '''control states''', are those in the [[United States]] that have state [[monopoly]] over the wholesaling and/or retailing of some or all categories of [[alcoholic beverage]]s, such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits. At the beginning of the [[temperance movement]] in the United States, many states curtailed where and when alcohol could be sold. Before this time, most alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption were often sold just like any other item in stores or in saloons/bars. Because of heavy lobbying by temperance groups in various states, most required off-premise beverages to be sold in dedicated stores (primarily called dispensaries). To further enhance oversight of beverage sales, some states such as [[South Carolina]] operated state-run dispensaries. Following [[repeal]] of national [[prohibition]] in the U.S. in 1933, some states decided to continue their own prohibition against the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages within their borders. Other states decided to leave the issue to local jurisdictions, including counties and cities, a practice called [[local option]]. States were also able to restrict the importation of "intoxicating liquors" into their territory under the provisions of the [[Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution]] which, while ending the Federal role in alcohol control, exempted liquor from the Constitutional rule reserving the regulation of interstate commerce to the Federal government. Thus states which wished to continue Prohibition could do so. Among those states that did not choose to maintain complete prohibition, some chose to establish government monopolies over the sale of alcohol beverages within their borders. Most of these states have an '''Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)''' board and run [[package store]]s called '''[[ABC stores]]'''. [[Image:UDABC.JPG|thumb|left|400px|State run [[liquor store]] in [[Cottonwood Heights, Utah]]. Due to the interpretation of [[Utah]]'s liquor law, the "closed" sign is off, indicating the store is open for business.]] Reasons for doing this vary; for example, the [[Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control]] states that: :''The purpose of control is to make liquor available to those adults who choose to drink responsibly - but not to promote the sale of liquor. By keeping liquor out of the private marketplace, no economic incentives are created to maximize sales, open more liquor stores or sell to underage persons. Instead, all policy incentives to promote moderation and to enforce existing liquor laws is ''<nowiki>[sic]</nowiki>'' enhanced.'' [http://www.alcbev.state.ut.us/Background/origin_purpose.html] Beginning in the 1960's onward, many control states loosened their monopoly of beverage sales. States like [[West Virginia]] sold all of their state liquor stores to private owners, while others like [[Vermont]] permit private store owners to sell alcohol on behalf of the state for a commission. There are currently 18 control and monopoly states in the U.S., depending on the definition used. (The term "control state" is popular but misleading in that all states control and regulate the sale of alcohol. In this sense, every state is a "control state," whereas only 18 are monopoly states.) The extent to which this monopoly extends differs from state to state. Out of the 18 states that regulate alcohol wholesaling, only 9 (Alabama, Idaho, New Hampshire, Oregon, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, and Utah) run liquor establishments. The others either permit ABC licensed private stores to sell liquor or contract the management and operations of the store to private firms, usually for a commission. In all of these control states, some form of low-alcoholic beverages are available in private retail outlets for off-premise consumption. Most of these states require private retail outlets to have a license issued by the ABC board (usually called an ABC off License). Similar licensure procedures apply for acquiring an on-premise license. Use of the term "alcoholic beverage control" by a state does not make it a "control" (or monopoly) state. For example, [[Arkansas]] uses "Alcoholic Beverage Control" or "ABC" to refer to its state agencies that regulate alcohol sales; yet all alcohol sales (wholesale and retail) in those communities that allow it are by private firms. Though Arkansas (like most states) generally limits the number of retail outlets in an area, outlets within those limits are free to compete. Therefore, Arkansas is a [[local option]] state, but it is '''not''' a "control" (or monopoly) state. Many "control" (or monopoly) states are members of the [[National Alcohol Beverage Control Association]]. ==State listing== The 18 control or monopoly states as of [[2005]] are: #[[Alabama]] (Liquor stores are state-run or on-premise establishments with a special off-premise license.)[http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/docs/abc/index.html] #[[Idaho]] (Maintains a monopoly over sales above greater than 16% [[Alcohol by volume|ABV]].) #[[Iowa]] (Does not operate retail outlets; maintains a monopoly over wholesaling of beverages greater than 6% [[Alcohol by volume|ABV]].) #[[Maine]] (State-contracted to private businesses for commission) #[[Michigan]] (Does not operate retail outlets; maintains a monopoly over wholesaling of distilled spirits only.) #[[Mississippi]] (State-contracted liquor stores) #[[Montana]] (State-contracted liquor stores, modeled after the [[AGLC]])[http://mt.gov/revenue/forbusinesses/liquordistribution/learnaboutliquordistribution.asp] #[[New Hampshire]] (Beer and wine sold at supermarkets & convenience stores; spirits and liqueurs are sold only in state-run liquor stores.) #[[North Carolina]] (Beer and wine can be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores; other spirits must be sold in state-run liquor stores.) #[[Ohio]] (Licenses businesses to run liquor stores for a commission. Beverages under 21% ABV may be sold in supermarkets) #[[Oregon]] (Beer and wine can be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores; other spirits must be sold in state-run liquor stores.) #[[Pennsylvania]] (All liquor stores are run by the state; in the process of opening state-run retail outlets inside some supermarkets.[http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/agency/press/press_detail.asp?press_no=06-20]) #[[Utah]] (all beverages over 3.2% ABW(4.0% ABV) are sold in state-run stores Utah code 5(a)(i)[http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE32A/htm/32A01006.htm]) #[[Vermont]] (Liquor stores are state-contracted and licensed) #[[Virginia]] (Beer and wine sold at supermarkets and convenience stores; all liquor stores are run by the state) #[[Washington]] (Beer and wine sold at supermarkets, gas stations, department stores, etc.; spirits and liqueurs are sold only in state-run or state-contracted liquor stores.) #[[West Virginia]] (Does not operate retail outlets; maintains a monopoly over wholesaling of distilled spirits only.) #[[Wyoming]] (State-contracted stores) Additionally, [[Montgomery County, Maryland]] is a control county, and some cities in [[Minnesota]] (notably [[Edina, Minnesota|Edina]]) control sales. About one-quarter of the United States population lives in control or monopoly states. ==See also== *[[Alcohol laws of the United States by state]] *[[Dry county]] ==References== *[http://www.nabca.org/ National Alcohol Beverage Control Association] *[http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversies/1127524611.html Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) or Monopoly States] *[http://www.liq.wa.gov/contact/other_states.asp Washington and other "control states"] [[Category:Alcohol law]] [[Category:Alcohol-related lists]]