Grocery, convenience stores uncork wine sales

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER THE COLORADO SUN

As of March 1, it’s wine-o-clock.

As Coloradans browse the aisles of their local grocery and convenience stores in March, looking for the right loaf of bread or reasonably priced eggs, they will soon have a new option for soothing their in ationsqueezed shopping experience: wine.

at’s because voters in November approved a ballot initiative allowing wine to be sold in grocery and convenience stores. Proposition 125 narrowly passed with 50.6% of voters in favor.

Both grocery and convenience stores with a license to sell beer can begin selling wine March 1. at’s approximately 1,900 licensees as of this month, according to the Department of Revenue. ey’ll also be able to o er beer and wine tastings.

e Colorado Licensed Beverage Association, which represents small liquor retailers, opposed the measure and warns that its members could be crushed by the change.

“While many liquor stores will adapt and outsell grocery stores be- cause of their selection, we foresee approximately a third of the 1,600 independent liquor stores across the state are in danger of losing their business,” said Chris Fine, executive director of the organization. e measure also didn’t change any other existing alcohol-sales rules, such as the prohibition of sales between midnight and 8 a.m., and no alcohol sales to anyone under 21. is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

Stores that plan to immediately add wine at all of their Colorado locations include Trader Joe’s, King Soopers and Safeway.

While Safeway con rmed they are preparing their shelves now, grocery stores aren’t allowed to stock their stores with wine until March 1, a spokesperson said.

Two other alcohol-related ballot measures, Propositions 124 and 126, failed on the November ballot.

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Wood and that the GOP needed to have a clear vision for what it stands for.

Peters said Republicans lost badly in 2022 “because … of the machines,” saying the GOP’s misfortune is the fault of election irregularities, of which there is no evidence.

Aadland said Republicans had a messaging problem. “We have the best candidates and we have the right way forward,” he said. “But we’ve got to articulate our message in a way that Coloradans believe in, understand and want to get behind.”

Stockham said the Colorado GOP needs to boost its numbers to win in the future. Right now, registered Republicans make up 24% of active, registered voters. Democrats make up 27%.

Here are some other key moments from the debate:

Wood alleged that a ordable housing projects are being used as a way to turn Republican areas blue. “You look at the a ordable housing projects and the multifamily housing that’s been popping up in Douglas County — I’m sure the same is