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Liquor Sales Up Over Last Year In Washington

Tom Banse
/
Northwest News Network

There’s new data on the affect on liquor privatization in Washington. According to new numbers released Tuesday that capture the first four months of private liquor sales, sales by volume were up between June and September nearly 3 percent over the same period last year.

Mike Gowrylow is a spokesman for the Washington Department of Revenue. He notes there was a slight dip in sales in September but says it’s not clear whether that trend will continue.

"The novelty might be wearing off. And people see the liquor next to the beer and wine in the supermarket as opposed to grabbing a liter or two.”

The increase in sales by volume comes even though liquor prices are actually higher than before privatization. Washington voters approved privatized liquor sales last year.

On the Web:

Privatization and Pricing (Washington State Liquor Control Board)

Spirits Tax Collections and Sales (Washington Dept. of Revenue)