Buying booze? Get ready for sticker shock and competition
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The first day of privatized liquor sales in this state has people paying more attention to the price tags than to what's in the bottles.
Getting the state out of the liquor business means private sellers must pay new retail and wholesale taxes on all liquor they sell. As a result, every bottle of booze on the shelf now carries roughly 30 percent in new taxes, which may or may not be included on the price tag. In some cases, the price you see is before the new taxes are added at checkout.
Grocery, drug and independent liquor stores are doing all they can to make sure you're not surprised at checkout.
Metropolitan Market, for example, is posting explainer tags and pricing charts throughout it's liquor section. And Safeway and QFC also have signage and extra staff on hand to explain the new pricing. Some stores, including Bartell Drugs, are totaling the tax on the price tag.
I documented prices a week ago to get the pre-privatization cost of Captain Morgan, Bacardi, Absolute, Smirnoff, Makers Mark, Jack Daniels and Jameson - all popular brands. Under state pricings, all prices were uniform from store to store. Here's is how some of those spirit prices compared on the first day of private operation.
Absolut Vodka 750ml
Last state-run price: $22.95
New Prices June 1, 2012 including new taxes:
West Seattle (North Admiral) Safeway- $25.71 (Club Card)
West Seattle (North Admiral) Metropolitan Market- $25.71
West Seattle (Alaska Junction) QFC- $26.92 (Rewards Card)
West Seattle (Alaska Junction) Bartell Drugs- $29.33
Jameson Whiskey 750ml
Last state-run price: $29.95.
New Prices June 1,2012 including new taxes:
West Seattle (North Admiral) Safeway- $31.74
West Seattle (North Admiral) Metropolitan Market- $31.74
West Seattle (Alaska Junction) QFC - $36.56
West Seattle (Alaska Junction) Bartell Drugs- $37.76 at Bartell
All stores are monitoring liquor prices like hawks to keep track of the competition- taking into account stores that at some locations liquor may not be a high priority for either the store or the customer. Retailers are also watching you a consumer, to see if you will shop around or like Bob Anderson, pay the price regardless, because of convenience and loyalty to a particular store.
"I think over time it's going to become more competitive, so in the short term it might be a little more expensive, but the convenience is worth it to me," said Anderson.
Retailers all agree it could take months for the prices to settle down.
