Colorado voters are faced with a long ballot this year. At the Longmont Chamber, we reviewed and took positions on the questions we felt will be most impactful to our local economy. Our larger Chamber partners in Denver took positions on many more and we invite you to check our advocacy page for that information and others that our Chamber has reviewed. For now, I would like to talk on Propositions 124, 125 and 126. All three concern liquor sales. Liquor sales and policy in Colorado are often controversial and that is true again this year. Small liquor store owners, breweries, etc. are generally opposed to these three questions. Larger grocery stores/big box stores are generally in support. Our Chamber has both in our membership and so our Chamber Board of Directors has voted to remain neutral. We do want to acknowledge, however, the concerns that have been expressed by some in this industry. Here are brief descriptions of the propositions:

Proposition 124, if passed, would extend the number of licenses a retail store licensee can hold incrementally over the next few years until that number becomes unlimited in 2037.

Proposition 125, if passed, would create a new “Fermented Malt Beverage and Wine” license. Those licensees with a current Fermented Malt Beverage license, including grocery and convenience stores, would be able to convert their license to the new one which would expand their opportunity to sell not only beer but wine.

Proposition 126, if passed, would allow licensed businesses (liquor retailers, grocery, convenience, restaurants) to use third party delivery systems for liquor sales. This is an expansion of current law. For example, restaurants can currently deliver alcoholic beverages with a business-owned vehicle with a driver of 21 years in age or older.

While these propositions would increase business opportunities for some, they are likely to have the opposite impact for others. Still, convenience for the consumer may expand, but opponents inform us that the wide selection of beverages currently offered to Colorado consumers would go away as many independent stores would struggle to compete under 124 and 125.

Many of our local business owners built their businesses with an understanding of current law in Colorado which they believe has been friendly to entrepreneurs. A stable policy environment is important to all businesses. We have heard clearly from many of our locally owned businesses that these propositions create big disruptions and change the playing field dramatically. Our larger stores stress convenience for the consumer. Chambers around the state have taken a variety of positions on these questions from support, oppose and neutral. In Longmont, we are remaining neutral but we ask voters to consider carefully our business community, while voting.