Admittedly I didn't read 1183 before voting yes, and all I have to say is; Bummer! Our prices were not that outrageous, compare them to California and they aren't that much more expensive. I just wanted convenience. I was really looking forward to Woodinville Whiskey releasing their aged whiskey. Start a petition, I will sign! Keep the craft distillers alive!

Stop whining. This is why the state should never have been in the business in the first place. It just screws everything up. Also, compared to CA, our prices are outrageous. A 1.75L of Crown Royal is about $35 in CA; here it's like $55 or $60. That's huge.

in Maui. Get the State OUT of Retail Sales.

It already is, that is what 1183 did

If someone is smart they will open a large store that specializes in CRAFTED spirits???

wallopingwillis - get real. This is a temporary issue while the laws transition to the new 'normal'. They'll still be in business, and they'll still sell thier wonderful whiskey. You'll just have to man up and wait a couple of months - or better yet, get off your rear and go find a bottle that hasn't sold yet at a state liquor store.

You didn't read it. You were just caught up in the idea that people that make more than you would lose their jobs. That is what a lot of it was. Great. Let's hope everyone in America loses their middle class job, then we can all be as miserable as you.

Seems that "we the people" hav' tic'd off the Queen and her minions. As a spoiled brat would,they will make their compliance with 1183 as painful as possibile. That'l teach us to behave and bow to their will and poor judgement, for our own good. What a bunch of reptiles up there in Olmpia... BMC

...it seems from the article that its the WALCB and not 1183 that is killing the business of these guys, but dont let that stop you from throwing your spin into the headline.

The state is making it SEEM like that's the problem. The article said "The state has stopped ordering..." and "the state also canceled existing orders..." Nothing is stopping the state from ordering/buying. They just want to hurt as many people as they're forced to turn over power back to the people.

It is the same with other alcohols available from the current distributors and someone in the state alcohol control board CHOOSES for us not to carry it. It's not that they can't, they just don't.

The push should be to make people AWARE of the whiskey/product. If there is a demand, businesses will order it and it will sell!

The tempertrantrum that is being thrown by the state is INSANE!

The state is making it SEEM like that's the problem. The article said "The state has stopped ordering..." and "the state also canceled existing orders..." Nothing is stopping the state from ordering/buying. They just want to hurt as many people as they're forced to turn over power back to the people. ----------------------------------------- Wow. You gotta be kidding me. The state takes the responsible action of no longer ordering booze so that they don't lose money when the transition actually happens and you all decide that it's a plot to screw the business and residents of the state.... You all'd be screaming if the state lost one dollar selling out a warehouse of unsold booze when the cutover actually happens. PATHETIC.

As of June 1, 2012, the State of Washington can not own ANY liquor. All interpretations of 1183 have the advice of the State AG. You are the one throwing the tantrum. You speak out of ignorance. Read the succession of implementation of 1183 if you can. I hope you enjoy the prices when seventy-five percent of the selection goes away.

This clown is nothing but a whiner. He's suffering from the transition of the law. Waaa waaaa. Everyone in the liquor business is suffering the same thing. It's temporary and he'll be back making money in no time. Yeah - it sucks, but it's not 'unintended' - it's what happens anytime that change happens that revolutionizes an industry.

If your product doesn't sell well WITHOUT THE GOV'T...TOO BAD. Jeeeez...

I think you missed the point of this article. The government isn't allowing them to sell their product. That is anything but a "free market"

I am not sure what article you read, but what it states is that the state is not allowing the distillers to sell directly to bars or restaurants until March 1st, 2012. They can still sell through their tasting rooms. What I don't know is if they can pre-sell their product to stores like a Bev-Mo which carries a lot of small distillers. I am sure that they will be in washington.

no, your missing the point. This is not small businesses "needing" the govt. for thier sales.....its our state govt's poor "interpretation" of the new law that is crippling them and essentially freezing thier ability to sell.... Dont be ignorant and make this a political "liberal this or that" statment....that is so tired dude....

A gooberment union worker talking about free markets.

who thought prices would come down to California or Nevada approximates were deluded. Though the WSLCB being government operates an expensive and inefficient distribution system compared to any successful private system, the cost difference is very much in the taxation imposed. That taxation will not be relinquished by the government. Craft distribution will find new distribution channels as will all low volume sellers in the market. The big distributors are primarily interested in high volume middle of the road product.

How can state liquor stores have stopped ordering from local distillers, when all I ever see in my local store are the big brands. Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, etc. Nothing from the Woodinville Whiskey company.

If they were ordering it, where was it going?

I would think the Woodinville Whiskey Company would love the change, they have a chance to have their product in more than just one place in larger community, which should amount to more exposure. Have a good enough product at the right price, people will find you!

Really? You're on crack.

Plus I've had their Whiskey and it's not that good. So, maybe thats the real problem....

Last time I was in Cali I bought a fifth of crown for $25, that was $2 cheaper than our $27 for a fifth of crown at the time. Don't like our liquor prices? Go to Montana where you can expect to pay $50 for a liter of crown. My point was this initiative raised taxes which sucks, and it will be difficult for low volume producers to survive until they are allowed by the state to sell their product again. Also you ever been to a liquor store in Vegas? or Oregon? And it doesn't get much worse than British Columbia. All I'm saying is relatively speaking it could be a lot worse.

Small liquor distillers will embrace the free markets, the setback is only temporary. If your liquor stinks, it won't. Welcome to capitalism.

like many others commenting just like your comment YOUR MISSING THE POINT.....its not at all about the product being poor, its the states idiotic, retalitory so called "interpretation" of the law virtually freezing these small businesses from selling any product for 3 months, Yes im sure they embrace capitolism...they are SMALL BUSINESSES. GET IT?

No I don't.

The State has no reason to retaliate for anything to do with this new system. Read the initiative, the dates for buying and selling are in the initiative. YOU MISSED THE THE WHOLE INITIATIVE. The majority voted for convenience, selection and lower prices. They didn't read the consequences of the whole initiative. Now they want to bellyache it. Go figure.