January 15, 2008
After two Warrington meetings and about four hours of total discussion, the Warrington Township Board recently denied the transferring of a liquor license to Wegmans.
Although representatives from Wegmans stressed the cautionary measures they would take, the board voted to deny the license by a count of four to one.
The worried public voiced their opinion about how the store would be able to protect people who have been drinking from operating a car or continuing to drink outside the store.
"People will not come here (to Wegmans) to get drunk. It's not a bar-type atmosphere," said Carl Phillips, loss prevention manager for the grocery store.
More Warrington residents were concerned about how underage crimes would be affected.
Phillips' response: "It could happen anywhere. But I feel 110 percent more confident in our program than going to a Fridays."
But the overall negativity of the board and the public prevailed. The board was not convinced that Wegmans employees could be trained well enough to ensure the safety of shoppers who have been drinking on the second level of the store, the only place in the restaurant where alcohol consumption would have been allowed.
Should Wegmans have gotten the license? I don't think Wegmans needs alcohol into the store.
It's already a hit, and at other Wegmans stores that have a license, alcohol makes up only 2 percent of the total income.
Yes, it does seem more convenient for alcohol to be available at at supermarket, but there's more to lose than to gain from the incidents that could result.
Click here to read Nick Tamburini's previous article about Wegmans' pursuit of a liquor license.
