Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-26
Liquor Industry Hits
2 ABC Proposals
TubIe-Hopping
Ban, Tighter
Credit Fought

trict bars and to tighten whole.
sale-retail credit ran into stiif
opposition from all segments Of
the industry today.
Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board Chairman Alan Payne
made both suggestions for
changes of regulations at q
hearing before the District
Commissioners.
He asked that rules specify
restaurant and bar patrons be
seated in order to drink. Now,
the regulations require such
customers to be seated when
served.
The second ABC proposal
would prevent retailers from
buying, even for cash, from
wholesalers to whom they owed
money so days after debts were
incurred. Now, dealers can only
buy for cash IS days after run.
ming up such debts until they
pay their wholesalers bill.
The need for clarifying the
liquor serving rules is non-ex-
lstent, according to witnesses
Philip A. Guarino, president Of
the Restaurant Beverage Asso.
citation Of Washington; Watson
3. Rulon Of the Washington
Restaurant Association and
Bourbon Dawes, executive vice
president Of the Hotel Associa.
ton Of Washington.
Defends Standee Sales
Mr.. Guarino defended sales
OF liquor to people standing at
bars, however. He said Con.
gress, to guarantee that old.
time saloons never would re-
turn to the District. had
prohibited such sales. The Com
r1issioners ought to consider
them now, he insisted, because
everybody licensed to sell any
liquor today also must sell
food.
You are mistaken if you
believe you have more control
over seated drinkers than bar
standees," he told city heads.
Often, drinkers in booths and
at tables are concealed from
public view"
Credit adjustments were at.
tackled by wholesaler Milton
Kronhetm. represented by his
attorney, Arnold F. Shaw. AZ
well as retail associations.
Mr.. Shaw said that the
kronheim firm would not ex-
tend credit terms past 30 DAYS
to its retailers.
I'VE will continue to demand
payment on the 18th day of
the month following the pur-
case even If this regulation il
passed." Mr.. Shaw said.
Calls Aims Too Rigid
He said the fixing of credit
terms Of this kind was the bust.
ness OF the wholesaler and his
customers. not Of public ON
Gals. Moreover, he said. the
ABC regulation would be too
rigid, forcing some retailers az
well as wholesalers to close down
their businesses.
He said that Mr.. Kronheim
had worked out a system of
downpaymentS for his GUS
toners and considered this A
matter for his own company
officials to police.
c. Kramer Johnston. who de.
scribed himself as the smaller
wholesale dealer. seconded Mr..
Shaw. The regulation would
penalize wholesaler by slash.
ing his business potential. Mr..
Johnston claimed. For himself.
adoption Of the regulation
would mean a loss of one-third
OF his business. he testified. He
said he would lose so per cent
OF his customers and might be
forced to close his doors for
lack OF funds to meet running
expenses.
billiard Schulberg, executive
director of the District Retail
Liquor Dealers Association, said
the credit regulation would
force retailers ito do ANYTHING
70 raise funds to stay in busi-
ness"
Corners Would Be Cut
The retailer. faced with this
situation. will cut corners. he
will sell to those who should
not be sold to and he will sell
below COST" Mr.. Schulberg pre-
dicted.
He stressed that retailers
were in a highly competitive
local market. They buy as
much liquor as they can at
a time at a top discount. II
their sales are cut of by fall
ing to pay wholesale bills inn
mediately, smaller dealers can
not stay within mailing dis
lance" Of their bigger COM
petitors, according to Mr..
Schulberg.
The Commissioners recessed
the hearing at 1880 pm. and
scheduled remaining witnesses
for appearances after 1880 pm.
Due to testify were O. E. Binde-
man. representing Class A re-
tail liquor dealers: David L.
Blanken. Of the Thrifty Bever-
age Stores. and Leonard II.