Opinion | Montgomery Countys top-shelf liquor system

Regarding Peter Franchot's Nov. 8 Local Opinions essay, "Ending Prohibition-style liquor control":

The Montgomery County liquor system works well. I travel often to surrounding counties in Maryland and to Pennsylvania and Virginia. Prices in Montgomery County are equal to or lower than those in surrounding jurisdictions. I have friends from other counties and states who come here to shop. The liquor stores bring in $34 million for the county. The stores provide good jobs with good benefits.

Mr. Franchot is advocating doing away with a system that provides convenience, good value, good jobs and $34 million to the county. And what will we replace it with? Private owners who keep most of the profits and employ people at minimum wage at best, with few or no benefits? I see who would win with that, and it would not be the citizens of Montgomery County.

Perhaps Mr. Franchot should be working on lowering the 9 percent tax on alcohol in Maryland instead.

William J. George, Germantown

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