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Spirits hit shelves across Washington BY NAT LEVY Bellevue Reporter
people an alternative to turning to gangs or other means of gaining stability. So rather than just loaning out money, the group is quite literally, lending peace. Jordan, also a sub-district qualifier for the Saints in track and field, became interested in micro-finance after reading about how direct donations in the wake of the Haiti earthquake eventually carried some unintended consequences.
Amid massive fanfare, and fear over price changes, liquor hit the shelves of thousands of Washington grocery stores June 1. Most who strolled through the newly stocked liquor aisles were simply curious about what the changeover would do to their pocketbooks. But price changes to a lot of common brands didn’t scare away a steady stream of buyers. “I don’t mind paying a few bucks more,” said Jonnathon McCoy at the Factoria QFC location. “You pay for the accessibility.” McCoy counts himself as one of the 1,128,904 citizens who voted in favor of Initiative 1183, a measure highly funded by Costco that closed all Washington State Liquor Stores and allowed retailers over 10,000 square feet to sell spirits. The move to sell spirits in grocery stores represents a long fight at the ballot box. Several previous initiatives failed, but in 2011 voters approved the measure with a total of 58 percent in favor. Once the excitement died down, potential sticker shock set in. Customers were worried about wholesale markups. The results when prices came out was mixed. The larger brands - Jack Daniels, Smirnoff etc. - featured prices roughly similar to state charges in the past. “If you have production of as much as a million bottles per year, which many of these big companies do, you can afford to take a lower margin to drop the price on the shelf,” said one liquor industry expert, who didn’t want to be named. Smaller brands, many of which are just as recognizable, were the ones most hit by the change. The insider said some types of Evan Williams bourbon and Vikingfjord Vodka have nearly doubled in price. The other piece of sticker shock to be aware of could come at the register. At most stores,
SEE LENDING PEACE, 10
SEE SPIRITS, 10
Graham Jordan, Interlake High School junior, founded the fundraising nonprofit Lending Peace to finance third-world small businesses. JOSH SUMAN, Bellevue Reporter
LENDING A HAND Interlake student’s organization helps people all over the world
BY JOSH SUMAN Bellevue Reporter
W
hen Interlake junior Graham Jordan started Lending Peace nearly a year and a half ago, it was solely out of requirement. In the 18 months since, he has found himself increasingly dedicated to a project that has already begun to realize the fruits of his labor. Jordan, who completed his
International Baccalaureate requirements this term, began the fundraising nonprofit in December 2010 to fulfill the group project portion of the IB curriculum. The concept was to fundraise in the community and distribute the proceeds as micro-loans to give those in need an opportunity to take affordable loans that would help them begin or expand a business. More economic utility in a neighborhood provides jobs and opportunities, giving
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