Joseph McWilliams – 11/27/09

This page was last updated on December 5, 2009.

Convenience stores must not sell alcohol; Joseph McWilliams; Beaver County Times; November 27, 2009. An editor’s note asserts, “Joseph (Eddie Mac) McWilliams is a native of Aliquippa.”

In his most recent previous letter, Mr. McWilliams lobbied for a gun ban in Aliquippa.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“I live near Altoona and have seen and read about the Sheetz liquor license saga as it has unfolded.

“Sheetz locations are always very busy. These stores tend to have many younger people working at the counters.

“I can’t imagine a 19-year-old clerk who is making $8 an hour screening for fake IDs, not selling alcohol to his or her friends and being held accountable for the above at that wage.

“I believe this would be a recipe for further underage drinking problems. Alcohol is easy enough for people under 21 to obtain without placing it in the coolers of a convenience store.

“If this is the future of alcohol sales in Pennsylvania, then just lower the drinking age to 18 and make sure you buckle up that seat belt.”

[RWC] As I’ve noted in previous critiques, I lived in Texas for over 18 years and I can testify the ability to buy alcohol in grocery stores, private liquor stores, et cetera and the lack of state stores and dedicated beer distributors didn’t bring about the end of the world.