Stores begin to sell beer
By RICHARD NILSEN, The Leader-HeraldWal-Mart stores in Johnstown and Amsterdam recently have begun to sell beer for the first time.
Other Wal-Mart stores already have been selling beer, according to Wal-Mart.
"About 30 states allow alcoholic beverages to be sold in merchandise stores like Wal-Mart," corporate spokeswoman Ashley Hardie said. "We always follow local ordinances on the sale of alcohol."
Amsterdam Wal-Mart store Manager Scot Hummel said beer sales are "a minor part of our sales now. But when we go to a Supercenter, it will be major."
Wal-Mart will begin turning the store into a supercenter next week, Hummel said. He did not know when the work would be completed.
Johnstown store Manager Marvin Massey said his store is selling beer and wine coolers. He said sales had already doubled his expectations.
"It's amazing," Massey said. "Our customers are saying they are very glad to see it."
Massey said only certain check-out registers are allowed to handle the beer and wine sales.
"It's all under surveillance," Massey said. "We're very structured. We followed the Hannaford and Price Chopper policies on handling the sales."
Wal-Mart also is planning to build a supercenter in Gloversville off South Kingsboro Avenue Extension. When that happens, the Johnstown Wal-Mart will close, Wal-Mart representatives have said.
Jeff Chamberlaine, owner of Spirits of the Adirondacks in Johnstown, said he didn't think Wal-Mart's sale of beer and wine coolers would affect his business or other liquor stores.
"Their license is only for low- alcohol content items," Chamberlaine said. "What will be affected are discount houses and other places that just sell beer and wine coolers."
Both Wal-Mart stores applied for licenses to sell beer and wine products with the New York State Liquor Authority in February and were granted the licenses in late July, according to the authority's Web site.
Reporter Richard Nilsen can be reached at ga@leaderherald.com.
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dublinbret
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08-10-08 10:16 AM
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yes, A-B as sold to largest beer distributer in the world. Believe that US operations (brewing) will not be affected by new ownership. BTW- In-Bev's best selling product is Stella Artois which is the most popular lager beer in the world. Taste it and you will realize that Budweiser is no better than Narraganset....
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teebzz
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08-09-08 1:38 AM
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Anheuser-Busch was sold to the Belgium brewer InBev for $52 BILLION.. yes with a B
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yankee21
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08-08-08 7:39 PM
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ADKMike I agree. I got an e-mail about Bud doing that a few weeks ago. Wonder how they are claiming to be America's #1 beer when its not even going to be made here!
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yankee21
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08-08-08 7:37 PM
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Does this mean the alcohol is being handled just like the baby formula is? Only at certain registers? As a mother its already a pain waiting to get the formula, now I may have to wait even longer due to alcohol being sold at only certain registers? Its a catch 22 because the formula at Walmart is $1 cheaper than anywhere else!Then again I guess if people in the good ol FC did't steal the formula it wouldn't have to be locked up!
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ADKMike
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08-08-08 7:23 PM
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Does it strike anyone as odd that since the number one brewer in America(Bud)has now sold out to a foreign company with a reputation for cutting costs that Wal-Mart is now in the beer business?
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Discobulous
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08-08-08 7:11 PM
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C'mon now....do you mean to tell me Walmart would sell any beer really worth drinking? They'll probably come up with their own brand that tastes like dishwater and call it something like WalBrew.
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Discobulous
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08-08-08 7:08 PM
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C'mon now....do you mean to tell me Walmart would sell any beer really worth drinking? They'll probably come up with their own brand that tastes like dishwater and call it something like WalBrew.
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homesweetsacandaga
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08-08-08 3:23 PM
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Yes, mom & pops do have loyal customers. They may not lose a ton of business in each store, but overall the losses are there. Like the WalMart manager said-the beer business has exceeded their expectations by double. Dublin: It will hurt their margin, and many of them don't have the time to expand their business plan to replace an item such as beer. It's a good idea to revise it, but not very practical for those currently suffering losses. My point was that I believe WalMart gets a tax break that mom & pops don't. I know what capitalism is, being a business major, and tax incentives to places like WalMart don't encourage capitalism in it's original sense. Smaller places can't compete with the likes of WalMart. Take away the discounts to places like WalMart. They won't shut up shop and move jobs away if communities stand strong and say*****no to tax breaks for mega-corporations. I was thinking more Micro than Macro economically. And for the record, I'm Republican,
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Joseph
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08-08-08 3:22 PM
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The system forces them to. I would think Wal-Mart is checked tighter than lets say a Mom and Pop Store
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crotoban
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08-08-08 1:47 PM
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mom and pops could compete if it wasn't for Unions, minimum wage, incredible cost of benefits, laughably high NY taxes... get the picture? libs lose again
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crotoban
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08-08-08 1:46 PM
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good post dublinbret, capitalism wins, liberals lose (yet again)
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Onesies
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08-08-08 1:24 PM
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Thank you Dublin. I dont care what everyone else says about you, you're alright in my book!
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dublinbret
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08-08-08 1:18 PM
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please explain how walmart selling beer will affect the number of DWI incidents? are you saying if they don't sell it there, people would just go home and say forget it? also, if the mom & pop stores suffer business loss, then they need to revise their business plan. this is called Capitalism and it's what our nation is based on. if you prefer price fixing and government control of who can sell what, I will be happy to provide you a list of countries that you can consider moving to...
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Onesies
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08-08-08 12:43 PM
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*realize
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Onesies
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08-08-08 12:43 PM
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Homesweetsac, the small stores have loyal customers, they wont lose much business. No one will go to WalMart just to get beer...do you really how much of a hassle it is to go there?? I want to kill myself every time I have to go there.
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Onesies
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08-08-08 12:36 PM
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Hey countrygirl, DWI's and car accidents arent cause by WalMart selling beer - theyre caused by drunken bafoons driving like idiots. Dont be slamming underage drinkers either...I'm sure you were one back in the day, just like everyone else was.
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homesweetsacandaga
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08-08-08 12:27 PM
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Another dent in the profit margin of the small business. What about the mom & pop convenient stores that count on beer sales to supplement gas and other merchandise sales, or the beverage centers that are still family owned? Does WalMart get any breaks or discounts on taxes, etc. from the town/county? If so, the beer sales are further lost sales tax revenue because the smaller shops don't get those kinds of breaks. Lost revenue on income tax as well, as lost sales to the smaller guys mean they can't employ help. I don't think WalMart is hiring more employees just because they sell beer now....
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itsjustme
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08-08-08 12:22 PM
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What does it matter if they buy their beer at wal-mart or go next door to hannaford and buy it or to price chopper.. where a majority of their employee's are teenagers. Come on think about it!
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countrygirl
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08-08-08 12:02 PM
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Gee, this is just great!! There isn't enough DWI accidents and related deaths. Perfect for teenagers too! Do you REALLY think the Walmart Staff is going to check for proper ID? Half of them are teenagers themselves!!!
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