Alcohol for sale.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS - Brief article

Although efforts to privatize parts of state alcohol sales systems have circulated for years, some say the budgetary realities of many of the control states is finally forcing the issue. Alcohol beverage control states are those that have a state monopoly over the wholesale distribution and/or retailing of some or all categories of alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine and distilled spirits.

At least five control states--Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Washington--introduced legislation this year that addressed privatization of alcohol sales of called for more study of the issue. Most of the...