They have to pay an exorbitant license fee every year to qualify to sell the state-owned booze. Oh, yes they can make a profit on the soda pop that is used to mix your cocktail with the state-owned booze. Did I mention that there is a hidden tax already included in the price of the booze?
The state of Utah makes tens of millions of dollars on booze each year. People from out-of-state are aghast when we locals tell them that we cannot make a profit on any booze we sell. “That is fascism,” they say, and I agree. Why should the state act like they are little gods that have to control private sources of income? Isn’t wine [booze] “the gift of the gods?”
Arthur B. Malia
Salt Lake City