More Evidence on Privatizing Liquor

Don Boudreaux and Julia Williams have an op-ed arguing for privatization of Virginia’s state liquor stores, noting little difference between control and license state in alcohol-related deaths, binge drinking, or drunk driving.  This finding mirrors a CF study by John Pulito and Antony Davies showing no social impact of liquor privatization.

Of course, as Norm Leahy points out, the biggest obstacle Virginia Gov. McDonnell is facing in privatizing liquor stores is not social concerns, or even economic concerns, but concerns over the loss of “profits” from state stores – and that is not even a revenue concern (as that money would be recouped through license fees and increases in liquor tax collections from private vendors), but that liquor stores provide a slush fund for pork projects.