Where in the world did I get the idea that the Alabama ABC Board is NOT in the business of promoting drinking? I can't find that anywhere on their website as part of a mission statement, but surely we don't have a state agency that actually promotes drinking! Yet I read a story in this morning's Montgomery Advertiser that quotes the Top Alcohol Guy in the state, former Montgomery Mayor Emory Folmar, saying the store displays are arranged to do just that! Here's the quote:
"Folmar says the Board tries to set up the stores so that a person coming in to pick up a bottle of Jack Daniels has to pass vodka and other items, and they hope the customer will pick up those items on an impulse.
So there you have it! Some innocent hardworking construction worker pops by the local ABC store to pick up a bottle to enjoy a few Jack & Coke when BAM! He's lured into buying some foreign white liquor like vodka or gin. Unable to resist, he does just that, and the rest, my friends, is history. A week later you'll find him on some corner chugging from a bottle.
On the positive side though, there's won't be any nude women on the bottle.
Furrin' likker! Stop 'em at the border!
ReplyDeleteTim, please tell me this is written in sarcasm. An "innocent hardworking construction worker" "lured into buying some foreign white liquor" and "unable to resist"?
ReplyDeleteThe innocent, hardworking construction workers are big boys (and girls). Give them some credit: They're not going to be duped into forking over their hard-earned cash just because the ABC implements some nefarious store-layout plot.
(... a plot which, I might add, capitalists and good businessmen might call "good marketing.")
The ABC Board does not have to promote drinking. If you are watching funds and you can go half a mile down the road to a state store..instead of the package store...
ReplyDeleteDiscourage people from drinking. Sell wine with nude caricatures on the bottle. They will put that Bombay Gin down and never look at the grape again.
Have you seen a copy of the slick, glossy "Alabama Wine & Liquor Quarterly", published by the ABC as their "price list" and chock full of full-page liquor ads.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.abc.alabama.gov/files/store_info/ABCBoardPrices.pdf