I-1183 not so scary

Why would some of our local stores who today cannot sell any liquor be against Initiative 1183?

They say they would be competitively disadvantaged. If they are successful, the big losers or the disadvantaged will be their own grocery customers who will continue to pay 30 percent to 50 percent more for liquor.

I do believe that liquor sales will increase if I-1183 passes because people like me who now buy all their liquor out of state will start buying it in Washington. It is interesting that 94 percent of the money ($3.67 million) for No on I-1183 came from Wine and Spirits of America, located in Washington, D.C.

I have seen people in uniform forecasting slaughter on our highways, but government statistics show that it will probably reduce alcohol-related accidents.

Every year from 2006 to 2009, government statistics show that the percentage of alcohol-related accidents in Washington was higher than three other Western states that have retail liquor sales (California, Nevada and Arizona). In 2009, the state of Washington was 11 percent higher than California, the second-highest state. Three-quarters of alcohol-related accidents occur at night, with the highest rate from midnight to 4 a.m.

James McIndoe

Spokane