Is selling liquor at the commissaries a good idea?
A study is currently being conducted to determine the feasibility of selling distilled spirits at the commissaries. At the end of July, 12 commissaries began selling beer and wine as part of a 90-day trial. So far, the trial has gone well.
The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) reported $70,658 in revenue from beer and wine sales by mid-August. That’s simply from 12 commissaries. When the trial ends, all commissaries will begin selling beer and wine.
DeCA does not need approval from the government to add distilled spirits to its shelves. That means you could be seeing liquor in the commissary in the near future.
Is Selling Liquor at the Commissary a Good Idea?
Alcohol abuse is common in the military. It isn’t just the service members that have a problem with alcohol. Military spouses do as well.
One of the reasons members of the Defense Department cited for wanting to add liquor to the sales floor was convenience. They said it was inconvenient for people to have to make multiple stops throughout their day to buy groceries and liquor.
Yes, it would certainly be more convenient to buy everything you need in one location.
The question though is, is selling liquor at the commissary a good idea?
If the commissary sells hard liquor, does the government become an enabler for service members abusing alcohol?
Problems stemming from the misuse of alcohol have cost the military greatly in terms of both money and productivity.
A study found that alcohol abuse costs the government $1.12 billion annually. That includes medical costs, the loss of 320,000 work days, 10,400 active duty service members becoming unable to deploy as well as 2,200 that separated from the military for alcohol-related reasons.
There are as many as 34,400 arrests each year of service members that involve alcohol.
These numbers are staggering.
Those on Capitol Hill said that of course the military does not condone excessive drinking and therefore, commissaries are not to glorify it. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman, had this to say,
Like all other activities on the installation, the commissaries will fully support the department’s programs, policies, and procedures to deglamorize the use of alcohol and discourage its irresponsible use. To this end, the commissary stores will offer only a limited assortment of beer and wines, and will be prohibited from engaging in marketing practices that would glamorize the sale or use of alcoholic beverages.”
A lack of advertising isn’t going to prevent a service member or a family member from binge drinking. The military has not provided any information on the effects of having liquor readily available at commissaries.
Hopefully this feasibility study will include information about alcohol abuse and not just profit potential.
The proposal to sell liquor at commissaries should not necessarily only focus on the people that have a problem with alcohol. There are many patrons of the commissary that are responsible drinkers.
Should they be given the opportunity to purchase liquor in the commissary?
Would shoppers prefer to keep liquor in places such as Class Six stores?
That’s what the feasibility study is really about. The results of the study are expected to be delivered by the end of next month.
The commissary is losing money in their stateside stores simply because people are going to locations better suited for them on their off hours and the civilian stores 24 hour operations. It’s a restricted sales program that has come to the end of it’s usefulness. All things considered, it’s mostly convenient for those working and living on base. Time, distance, prices and “surcharge~ aka taxed” are all things considered and will fade as the older military folks pass on. OVER 8 YRS AGO, I wrote the 50 or so commissary reps on allowing all employee’s to shop there. I was shot down saying it was solely a military benefit. NOW, the strictly civilian and less then benefit qualified veteran employee’s are allowed to shop till their employment ends. MONEY IS THE FOCUS HERE. The Commissary needs to do several things…. (1) MERGE WITH EXCHANGE SERVICES…… (2) GO TO A FOUR DAY OPERATION…… (THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY)…… (3) CLOSE EARLY B4 A HOLIDAY AND BE CLOSED ON ALL HOLIDAYS ! DeCA WILL THEN SEE PROFITS !!!
Alcoholic beverages are sold in many local stores, I don’t have a problem with it.
Minors will be carded, so that shouldn’t be a concern for any who are worried.
BUT why put it in the Commissary? The space could be better used for products shared by majority not the select few. Class 6 is well equipped to do a better selection. Besides, it you think it’s a value to you then you can walk the extra mile for it. LOL
It is not going to effect me either way.
It will effect you and everyone else in that it will take up space that could be better used for all patrons not just select few. VOTE NO! Let the Class 6 keep it’s supply there.
It says that alcohol abuse cost 1.12 billion dollars annually. Now the politicians take on alcohol abuse. The more alcohol available the less likely it is to cause alcohol abuse. That is the political correct version. My own personal opinion is if there is no alcohol available it would cut down on abuse tremendously. Also why would you open another liquor store within walking distance of another liquor store? Another question. Would the commissary liquor store take away revenue from the Exchange? Another question. Would alcohol sales on Base remain the same or lower or higher? I there anyone than tell me this? I mean somebody at the top.
Well, I am not at the top but I can say this to you. controlling alcohol has been tried back in the 20-30’s. Didn’t work then either. When i was in, cigarettes were issued in small packs with the c rats (MRES) later the govt cut them off. Sexual magazines became offensive, so they placed them behind the counter or removed them completely. Alcohol is placed in the Class 6 stores.. That’s enough. Keep it out of the commissary. As for the overall loss of revenue to the exchange, not likely as the commissary would carry a small select items. Space used for it though would take away additional product that could be sold for the majority not the minority.THIS WHOLE THING IS ABOUT MAKING MONEY FOR THE COMMISSARY NOTHING ELSE
I see no problem with one stop shopping
The commissary is losing money because it’s not competitive with outside stores. I go to the base to buy 2 things odwalla drinks and milk, Your produce stinks, The meat display area reeks. plus it is hard to find things. It was much easier before you remodeled, Get rid of the people who put the stuff in bags, they never do it the right way. I go to aisle 3& 4 so I can pack myself. You brought in Home Base products and they are more expensive, I liked the Presto line and now there gone, People want quality and it appears you’re catering to a specific group, I don’t eat eat seafood from China it is subpar, Any way today there is no one stop shopping, you have to go to many stores to get what you want.
Class 6 is a good option and profits go back to the service members in MWR benefits. Commisaries need to expand hours so workers can shop after their day of work 7am to 10pm Mon to Sat and 7am to 7pm on Sun
Yes if the prices are better then CVS or COSTCO otherwise what’s the point?
Why not just leave all the alcoholic beverages in the package store. No surcharge there.
I DO NOT DRINK, and I do not see any problem with selling such products. EVERYBODY must be responsible for their own actions. CARS KILL PEOPLE, does this mean there be gas stations on base is a no-no? Cars kill people, does this mean cars should not be sold period? A responsible drinker should know when he or she has enough to drink! And don’t go around putting the blame on anybody else!!! I AM NOT THY BROTHER’S KEEPER!
Most Class 6 shops sell gas, snacks, and a good selection of all booze; this is a good setup. The commissaries will need the space of the larger class 6 stores to provide the same selections, as well as more storage area to keep additional stock. If the Class 6 turns into a gas station alone it won’t survive…nearly all gas stations were converted to Class 6 stores, and those not large enough were abandoned/demolished. I don’t see the commissary selling gas/fuel. I am in favor of keeping the Class 6 + gas stations, as it keeps down the congestion in the commissary, and I don’t want to shop the commissary when I want to get gas and grab some adult beverage(s).
No! It will be better to go out of your way to the class six store to buy your spirits.
NO, the commissary should not sell anything that leads to addiction and later health problems that the government then ends up paying to treat. You don’t need alcohol or tobacco to live; and both not only negatively impact those who use them but also those around them.
I think the commissary should carry all of the cooking liquors. I make a flambé sauce with brandy but I don’t drink brandy, I make chocolate cordial candies during holidays that have chocolate liquor and strawberry liquor etc. and I don’t drink those liquor’s either. Many great recipes call for white wine and I keep a bottle of that too but never drink it. I find it very annoying to make a second trip just to pick up one item. They should carry all the common cooking and baking liquors and wines and beers ( which I don’t drink either) not just red wine vinegar.
I think the main question is whether or not having this would put the Commissary in competition with the Class Six store. The exchanges are there to make a profit, the Commissaries are not & that is why we should only be paying cost plus 5%, Prices in the Commissaries are going up because they have lost focus. They no longer lead, their management knows only how to follow. Management has become lazy. Is this another step towards combining the commissary with the Exchanges?
We (the military) no longer need the manpower that we needed 30 years ago, so as the retirees disappear, there are not enough new enlistees to replace them.
The Commissaries used to be open only five days a week, now they are open six days a week (seven if you are overseas). Cost effective or lack of leadership?
As a retiree, I go to the Commissary twice a week and walk the isles to look for unadvertised sales. A few months ago I found Tide (100 oz bottle) on sale for $5.69. The normal price is $11.99. I came back a couple of days later and it was no longer on sale. Can you imagine how much they would have sold if it had been advertised? As a retiree, I live on a budget but when I see a great deal…..I buy in bulk! I bought 14 boxes of Cheerios form a local store because they were priced $1.80 a box.
A lot of people want the Commissary to merge with the Exchanges and at first glance it looks like a good deal, once you take a closer look you will see that you will be paying the same price or higher than you would at a store off base.
Have you ever notice the sign in the Exchanged where they boast about all the money that they give back to the military community? Now think about it? They are giving back to the military community the money that they overcharged you!
I don’t know about you, but I expect better! I accepted low wages during my military career because of the benefits that I was promised and they are slowly disappearing.
My husband and I support the sale of liquor at the commissary.
absolutely not, I hate the way all the grocery stores are becoming glorified state stores anyway, This takes away space for products that people use and want for something that only a select few will appreciate. You would think with the problems a lot of people face with drug and alcohol abuse that you would not condone this.
No. Keep the liquor out of the commissary. We are losing products on the store shelves already as they are being replaced by exchange brands and some long time items are going away. The exchange taking over the comm store operation is not beneficial and prices are going up as I can see on my monthly bill. Keep the alcohol in the class 6 and not with the groceries. I do believe as one write stated that the hours of the comm stores are not realistic for this day and time.
No to alcohol sales in the COMMISSARY. They can barely keep their aisles stocked to begin with and it will take up value me space for other items.
Yes Good Idea All In One Place Shopping Saves A Trip To The Exchange
Please do not add to the places already selling booze on military bases! As a recovered alcoholic, I attend AA meetings and listen to testimony shared by the many alcoholics there. One of the most common complaints is the availability and promotion of alcoholic beverages everywhere you go. I have been told that just like cigarettes are sold now in the commissaries, the alcoholic beverages will actually belong to AAFES, just the same as those sold in BX & PX facilities. The federal employees in the Commissaries should not be selling merchandise for non-appropriated fund agencies like AAFES. The commissaries stateside have been in danger of being closed for several years now. If they keep abusing the privilege, some people in D.C. are going to get fed up trying to justify funding the commissaries. I’m just saying – – – beware!
commissary lines are long enogh. Class 6 works just fine for me
If it’s only going to be a limited selection, why even bother, leave it in Class VI, where as George says, they have the room for it, after all, it is their business.
As far as the abuse argument, you’re not going to remove abuse by NOT selling it in the commissary, it can be purchased at Class VI or even off post.
As also said earlier, it was outlawed during prohibition, but that didn’t curb abuse, it actually got worse, along with crime.
I don’t see a problem with the Commissary selling alcohol. If you can purchase alcohol at the PX why not the Commissary. I like the idea of the Commissary being open 7 days a week. It’s more convenient for shoppers and that’s the name of the game, getting the shoppers to buy at the Commissary. However, the Commissary should extend their Bakery & Deli departments. Now whenever I’m in the Commissary the Bakery either stale bread and rolls. Bring back the breads and rolls that were so popular, and sold so well, 10 years ago. Another improvement the Commissary can make is having someone go through the shelf items to determine whether the date has expired. I can’t tell you how many time I’m purchase shelf items and bring them home only to find they had expired months earlier.
The Commissary should also expand on the items sold. Last year they had a Christmas Cookie event. It was hugely successful but for some reason it never happened again. The Commissary needs to recognize that people shop early for Holiday items and they, and the PX, need to expand on the merchandise they sell at those particular times.
I do not object to employees having permission to shop the Commissary or PX.
Yeah, why not!
I hate having to make an extra stop for wine. I could just buy it with my groceries!