Coloradans have been able to buy full-strength beer at all grocery and convenience stores since 2019, three years after the state legislaturepassed a law that changed how retail alcohol sales are regulated for the first time since the end of Prohibition. 

Now, it’s wine’s turn.

Proposition 125 would allow grocers and convenience stores licensed for beer sales — aka “fermented malt beverage retailers” — to also sell wine, sake, cider, mead and other vinous liquor starting next year. 

Here’s what you need to know about Proposition 125:

What it would do

Proposition 125 would change Colorado law to allow retailers with a license to sell beer to start selling wine on March 1, 2023. 

That’s approximately 1,819 licensees as of June 2021, according to the Department of Revenue. They’ll also be able to offer beer and wine tastings. 

And several other rules still apply: No self-checkout, no selling beer or wine below cost and no moving a license to a new permanent store location if it’s too close to another licensed store.

The measure wouldn’t change any other existing alcohol-sales rules, such as the prohibition of sales between midnight and 8 a.m., and on alcohol sales to anyone under 21. 

According to the Department of Revenue, Proposition 125 would cost the state $5,000 for a one-time update to its computer program. Passage of the measure would also authorize the state licensing authority to set fees for a wine and beer retail license.

The arguments for

Consumer convenience is the main reason proponents of Proposition 125 cite for why grocery stores and other licensed retailers should be allowed to sell wine. 

Consumer thirst for beer increased 8.1% in 2019, the first year grocery stores were allowed to sell full-strength beer. According to data from the Department of Revenue, the state’s beer manufacturers and wholesalers sold 124.5 million gallons, up nearly 10 million gallons from the prior year. 

But that growth rate didn’t last. The volume of beer sold fell 1.9% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. Beer sales picked up again last year, growing 4% in 2021.

While the number of beer retailers grew 13.8% between 2018 and 2021, the number of licensed liquor stores in Colorado has been flat since 2018, whenSenate Bill 243 authorized grocery stores and other retailers to sell full-strength beer instead of just 3.2%.

That’s a figure advocates of Proposition 125 are using. When grocery stores began selling beer, Colorado didn’t see a heavy loss in liquor stores.

“The Colorado experience of modernizing our state’s beer laws worked out well for everyone,” Michelle Lyng, spokeswoman for the Wine in Grocery Stores/Yes on 125 and 126 campaign, said in an email. “Grocery stores sell full-strength beer, there’s the same number of liquor stores today as before, and shoppers can choose between the convenience of a grocery store and the selection of a liquor store. It’s been proven there’s room for everyone to flourish.”

The arguments against

Small liquor stores will lose business if Proposition 125 passes, opponents of the measure say. They already felt the pain when grocers and convenience stores were allowed to sell full-strength beer. 

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