Change archaic state liquor laws

Regarding the Monday editorial, “Deck the malls with booze”:

I am a senior citizen born and raised in the Puget Sound area and have known “state-controlled liquor stores” for most of my life. I also lived for about 25 years in Arizona, where liquor can be purchased at private stores of every description.

I can attest that there is no more abuse of distilled spirits in Arizona than here in Washington. Arizona realizes a good portion of its state income from taxes on the sale of liquor with essentially no cost to Arizona taxpayers. Washington, by contrast, must spend vast sums to operate a chain of state-owned liquor stores.

I have never been able to understand why our state continues to enforce such archaic and inefficient liquor laws. Let’s get with it and privatize the sale of liquor. We can easily apply any needed controls and at the same time relieve our economic situation. If nothing else, ask the officials in Arizona just how they do it.

Bob Peeples

Monroe