Whether this means the prices will stay higher in the long run or not, this is bad news for the restaurant industry for sure. Anybody who has spent much time in and around the restaurant business knows that liquor sales account for a large percentage of a restaurant's profit margin. They make very little on food after wholesale and labor costs. Obviously, this doesn't apply to in-and-out joints that don't sell alcohol, but for the specialty restaurant that counts on many folks having a beer, glass of wine, or cocktail (or three) with their meal, this will force them to increase their drink prices. I suspect that will dissuade a significant number among the already shrinking customer base from opting to purchase those beverages when dining out, and restaurants will close, putting more people in the unemployment lines.

I don't know what the rest of you are seeing around town, but my town has lost all but a few of its restaurants to bankruptcy over the past year or so, and I am hearing rumors that others are on the brink. Main Street is starting to look like a ghost town.

It bears mention that the local liquor store will re-open in June... With an estimated price increase of 17% on the bottle. The proprietor of that store was less than pleased with that prospect when I spoke with her last Thursday.

I suppose I'm glad to see the State getting out of the business of selling at least one sin to the public, but only in principle. I don't think it represents an economic win for anyone except the distributors and large buyers like Costco.