West Bloomfield, MI — (December 6, 2017) On Wednesday December 6, The Republican-controlled Senate approved a bi-partisan bill by a 27 to 9 margin that would write the half-mile rule into law by prohibiting liquor stores from operating within 2,640 feet of one another with some exceptions.
“This is a big win for our small business,” said Auday Arabo, president and CEO of the Midwest Independent Retailers Association (MIRA). “Many businesses risk major losses if the MLCC gets their way to rid the state of the half-mile rule. It is the reason we have pushed for the bill that would make it a law.”
Earlier this year, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) started their efforts to eliminate the 1978 rule that prohibits state-licensed liquor stores from operating within a half-mile of one another.
“If we don’t make this a law and risk the MLCC trying to eliminate the rule, it allows multiple liquor stores to operate next door to each other or on the same street corner and could potentially increase crime and major accidents,” said Arabo. “I can’t imagine Mayors, Supervisors and Police Chiefs wanting a liquor store at every corner of every major intercession.”
The bill now moves to the House and “we hope to have this presented to the Governor very soon.”
Auday Arabo is available for interviews.