Washington liquor sales still up after privatization

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington state officials say sales of hard liquor have increased since the state privatized liquor sales.

The Washington state Department of Revenue reports that spirit sales by volume were 2.9 percent higher in the first four months of privatization, compared with the same four-month period a year ago.

Private liquor sales went into effect June 1 after voters approved an initiative kicking the state out of the liquor business.

The Columbian newspaper reported Tuesday that nearly 13.6 million liters were sold in the four-month period ending in September, compared with 13.2 million liters during the same four months in 2011. The dollar value of those sales also increased to $263 million, up 23 percent from $214 million during the same period last year.