It’s a mystery

So far this year, the Washington citizenry has, for all intents and purposes, endorsed two separate solutions in the form of Citizen Initiatives to rid ourselves of the state government’s monopoly on liquor sales.

But when the votes get counted in November, if both of them pass, which one will be declared the victor?

No one knows.

The main difference between the two initiatives is that 1100 would not include any price controls and would make the cost of liquor licenses the same for both small and large retailers; 1105 would include some price controls and would require large retailers to pay more for licenses.

Assuming both measures make it onto the November ballot, it’s unclear what the implications will be if both of the two conflicting proposals win. “That’s the million-dollar question,” says I-1105 spokeswoman Charla Neuman. Dan Sytman, a spokesman for state attorney general Rob McKenna, has not yet gotten back to PubliCola about which law will take precedence if both pass.

If they both pass, I would put my money on the one backed up by the “large retailer” cash being declared the winner. So long as I don’t have to deal with the state and their horrible lack of selection when I buy my spirits, I don’t care either way.