Colorado lawmakers debate two bills in latest battle over where to sell liquor

Just when you thought the battle over where to sell booze in Colorado was over, some lawmakers have resurrected it. Two bills making their way through the legislature in the final days would change what kind of liquor grocery stores are allowed to sell and how much you pay for it.

A measure that's already passed the state Senate and is in the Colorado House would impose a fee of:

• About 2 cents per six-pack of beer
• 4 cents per liter of wine
• 30 cents per liter of spirits
  

The money, an estimated $20 million per year, would go into a new enterprise that would fund the treatment and prevention of alcoholism. 

"My family like many of your viewers' families have had members who have struggled with alcohol addiction and alcoholism and so this touches all of our lives and it's really time that Colorado does a better job of getting help to the people who need it," said Sen. Chris Hansen, a Democrat representing Denver. 

"Nobody wants to fight against treatment and prevention. We all want to do that but it needs to be a matter of the policy of the State of Colorado not creating some enterprise that will choose to go whatever path it chooses to go on because they're not as accountable as our elected representatives of the people," said Sen. Paul Lundeen, a Republican representing Monument. 

Another bill being debated would prevent grocery stores from selling spirits. About 30 grocery stores in Colorado have purchased licenses that allow them to sell beer, wine and spirits and if passed, the state would take away those licenses.

This bill is being debated on the House floor and then needs to pass the Senate by next Wednesday.