The article about selling booze is in today's
LDS.
Here it is:
State dreams of selling booze at Bike Week
By Gail Ober
Mar 25, 2011 12:00 am
LACONIA — The New Hampshire Liquor Commission will experiment with temporary specialty liquor stores in hopes of boosting revenues during high traffic times.
The proposal, referred to in House Bill 2 which is the rider bill to the state budget, could mean temporary liquor outlets in the Lakes Region during annual Motorcycle Week as early as 2013.
"We hope to optimize sales and maximize profit, which goes to the general fund, but we obviously want to do it in a safe and respectful manner," said N.H. Liquor Commissioner Joe Mollica yesterday.
Laconia Police Chief Michael Moyer, whose department coordinates and staffs safety and security on the front lines for the annual motorcycle rally, said he has not been contacted by the N.H. Liquor Commission and couldn't comment on any proposal until he knew of the details.
He did say a representative the N.H. Liquor Commission always contacts him when there are applications for new private liquor licenses.
Mollica said there is no way the commission would put any temporary liquor outlets in any community without contacting the community's officials and police departments.
"Remember, we enforce and educate as well," he said.
He also said there was no proposed site for a temporary liquor store during Bike Week and no guarantee it would be in Laconia.
City Manager Eileen Cabanel also said no one from the commission had contacted her office.
The city's income sources to offset Bike Week expenses is vendor licenses receipts but Cabanel said she didn't think Laconia's Bike Week fees would apply to a state department.
Right now there are no N.H. Liquor Outlets in Laconia, rather there is one in Belmont at the Belknap Mall and one in Gilford near Patrick's Pub, and one in Meredith along Route 104.
Mollica said the pilot program for temporary liquor outlets is this summer at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, during the two NASCAR races.
The said patrons will be able to purchase wine and hard liquor from a 4,000-foot temporary vending site. He also said it would be a way to showcase local wines from the state's burgeoning vineyards.
"We'll see if it's received well and profitable," he said.
The commission chose the speedway because it is a major attraction and many of the attendees typically camp on the property — sometimes for as long as a week.
"This way if they forget something they wouldn't have to drive," he said.
He said the commission is also recommending a permanent liquor store at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and will experiment with temporary kiosks in a number of shopping malls during the holiday season.
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