The American Health Crisis Explained

wow...but we already are in trouble (4.00 / 3)

somewhere I just read about percentage of health care dollars spent on diseases related to diet and lifestyles?? And we already "pay" for people eating crap it's just that we aren't honest about it.

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by: LeeN @ Sun Oct 18, 2009 at 19:33:27 PM UTC

Beer and wine (4.00 / 3)

Interesting that beer and wine are such big sellers. Sale of beer and wine in groceries is prohibited in some states, so sales there are zero.

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by: count @ Sun Oct 18, 2009 at 19:53:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Like PA (4.00 / 2)

We've just got liquor stores and beer distributors here.  They repealed prohibition but its legacy lives on...

Vote for yourself at www.ni4d.us!

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by: rossl @ Sun Oct 18, 2009 at 21:13:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Also Maryland. nt (4.00 / 2)

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by: count @ Sun Oct 18, 2009 at 21:20:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

And New Jersey... (4.00 / 1)

Hmmm.  I'm starting to notice a geographical pattern here...

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 01:39:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

but you can still purchase wine and beer (4.00 / 1)

in grocery stores in NJ?

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by: LeeN @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 12:33:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not that I'm aware of... (4.00 / 1)

Unless they changed the law since I moved, there's no wine or beer sales allowed in supermarkets.  Although for a long time, the chain grocers were lobbying to change the law.  Last I heard (2007-ish), some lawmakers were considering it to raise funds for the state from liquor licenses, though.

Some supermarkets had attached "liquor stores" when I lived there, which were (the aforementioned "liquor stores") the only places in New Jersey to purchase any alcoholic beverages for takeout, but they had to be physically separated by a wall and a separate entrance from the grocery store itself.  You can't even buy beer in gas stations or c-stores in New Jersey, and I remember days down the shore a few years back where we'd have to drive to Sea Bright to pick up some beer from our friends' place in Red Bank, because they were the only place within 30 miles that sold beer until 2 AM, after the local "liquor stores" closed at 9:30 or 10 PM.

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 20:07:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A lively topic (4.00 / 1)

Bill would allow for beer and wine in grocery stores

By Doug Denison, Staff Writer
Dover Post
Tue Jun 09, 2009, 03:07 PM EDT

A bill introduced June 4 in the Delaware House of Representatives would allow supermarkets in the state to sell beer and wine alongside regular grocery items.
...

Forty-five states and the District of Columbia allow supermarkets to sell beer, wine or both. In addition to Delaware, states that don't allow grocery store alcohol sales include Alaska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

I'm surprised that only five states prohibit any in-store sales. I thought states in the bible belt probably would not, for example. Also, I'm surprised that Maryland is not on the list, although I think the last time I was in Ocean City, beer was sold in groceries there, for the tourists. I'll have to look for more information about Maryland.

N.Y. Gov. Wants Grocers to Sell Wine

Dec 17, 2008

New York is currently one of 15 states that ban sales of these alcoholic beverages {wine and champagne} in grocery stores. Paterson said changing the law would bring in about $100 million in revenue via a franchise fee charged to any grocer who already sells beer and wants to sell wine.

New Jersey May Allow Liquor Sales at Grocery and C-stores

May 27, 2009 - TRENTON, N.J.

While 45 states allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in supermarkets and convenience stores, New Jersey limits chains to just two total liquor licenses. It also mandates the liquor be sold separately from groceries, usually in an adjoining store.
...

The New Jersey law was adopted in 1962 to prevent price fixing and monopolization, and to address organized crime. Smaller liquor store owners fear the change would drive them out of business because bigger stores can buy in larger quantities and sell the alcohol cheaper.

Apparently this change is still "bottled up" in the legislature - I didn't find anything about passage or failure.

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by: count @ Tue Oct 20, 2009 at 02:49:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah, now I'm remembering... (4.00 / 1)

Especially this part -

Smaller liquor store owners fear the change would drive them out of business because bigger stores can buy in larger quantities and sell the alcohol cheaper.

And they have a point, now that I think of it.  NJ has way more 'mom & pop' liquor stores than any other place I've ever been to.  And since they currently control pretty much all liquor and beer sales in the state, they must have quite a bit of $$$ lobbying power on their side, too.

As for this -

The New Jersey law was adopted in 1962 to prevent price fixing and monopolization, and to address organized crime.

(slapping head)

Oh, Christ.  There's my ole' state for you again!

:)

Does WalMart sell beer and wine?  I honestly don't know, I've never set foot in one.  But I know they're big into groceries now, so if they do sell alcohol, that might account for a lot of the bible belt states allowing sales in grocery stores.  Might have been part of the deal they make to open new stores in those states?  Just thinking out loud here...

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Tue Oct 20, 2009 at 16:24:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Walmart - yes. (4.00 / 1)

You have such a pragmatic mind, Jay.

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by: count @ Tue Oct 20, 2009 at 17:30:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Since the results are based on $ sales (4.00 / 2)

perhaps beer and wine appear more popular than they are due to their price?  And don't forget the tailgaters!!

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by: nycstray @ Sun Oct 18, 2009 at 23:28:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I remember when Harold and I went to Missouri (4.00 / 2)

so I could meet the family. I was astounded that they had beer, wine and hard liquor in the grocery store, but you couldn't buy it on Sundays. That was almost 20 years ago.


Regarding locavores as elitists - explain to me how supporting local business is elitist....

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by: Joanne Rigutto @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 23:02:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Link, please? nt (4.00 / 3)

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by: count @ Sun Oct 18, 2009 at 19:55:54 PM UTC

don't have one (4.00 / 2)

got this from someone who has a subscription to the source, which is something you have to pay for.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sun Oct 18, 2009 at 22:20:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

where's the beef? (4.00 / 2)

Seriously, I am astounded that meat doesn't show up in the top 10. I can't believe that people have reduced their meat consumption that much. I have a few possible explanations, and would appreciate hearing what others think.

1) Meat sales are broken down by type: beef, chicken, pork and if added together, would appear in the top ten.
2) Most meat is bought precooked (store deli or fast food) rather than cooked at home. This is why Thanksgiving is such a big deal-it's one of the few times most families use their ovens.
3) Meat is cheap (too cheap--subsidized by U.S. farm policy) and volume of purchases not reflected in total sales.

Does anyone have any other ideas on why meat is missing from the top ten?

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by: tofumagoo @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 01:27:49 AM UTC

I think pre-cooked/take out/fast food (4.00 / 2)

does cut into the totals. And frozen meals are on the list.

There's def something off about the list. 1,2,4 and 9 are beverage categories. With 3 in the top 4? I thought people were drinking soda instead of milk? How's that working with milk at #2? I would have thought milk would be a bit farther down they way they talk about our soda consumption . . .

Of course, I'm having some problems with relating. I don't do carbonated drinks unless I carbonate them myself. Rarely buy breads, never been a huge bread eater. Now I make my own when I want it. Snacks, frozen meals and cold cereal are also something I never buy. Not much of a beer drinker either. So that leaves me with milk, wine, cheese and cigs, lol!~ I wonder where coffee and tea fall on the list . . .  

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by: nycstray @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 07:14:08 AM UTC

[ Parent ]