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| 8 September 2000 -The San Diego Union-Tribune Bid for discount liquor sales fought By Amy Oakes A group of South San Diego residents is fighting a local discount store's effort to start stocking its shelves with beer and wine, saying it could increase alcohol abuse, especially among underage drinkers. A coalition of community leaders and residents held a 30-minute rally yesterday in front of the 99 Cents Only Store in the 1800 block of Palm Avenue, near Saturn Boulevard in Nestor. The store, part of a Southern California-based chain, has applied to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for a license to sell alcohol and is awaiting a decision. If the license was granted, the 99 Cents Only Store in Nestor would be the first of the eight such stores in San Diego County to sell alcohol. The chain has 92 stores in Southern California and two in Las Vegas. 'Me majority of those sell alcohol. The protesters – about 12 people – waved signs at passing motorists and voiced their concerns about the prospect of discount alcohol sales in the area. Dick Minder, who manages a mobile-home park near the store, expressed worry that discount beer and wine would entice people, especially teen-agers, to purchase alcohol. "We don't need another beer place around here," Minder said while holding a "99 Cents Store yes, alcohol sales no" sign. "People get drunk and destructive." Minder knows firsthand about that. He said that of the 2,000-plus residents of the mobile-home park about 80 are teen-agers. Last month, a group of teens bought cans of spray paint and vandalized trailers and laundry rooms, he said. But, Lupe Munguia, manager of the 99 Cents Only Store, said her cashiers would check identification cards of anyone purchasing alcohol. The store, which is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., would probably sell 99-cent bottles of beer and table wine, she said. "We definitely will have very, very strict rules," Munguia said. "Everything is going to be according to the law." Community leaders are not convinced, said Xavier Cortez, who helped organize the rally and who filed a protest against the store's license application. Cortez said residents are willing to take the battle to the state. If the department grants the license, a hearing will be held before an administrative law judge for opponents to express their concerns. "We're trying to send a message to the manager here that residents don't approve," said Cortez, a prevention specialist at the Reachout to Families Resource Center. And, if the store is permitted to sell alcohol, Cortez said, 'We're going to keep an eye on them." Many of the protesters said the store, which opened eight months ago, has been a benefit to the community. But, they said, there are already enough places to purchase alcohol in the community. Lawrence Hage, chairman of the South Bay New Attitude Committee, a 2-year-old group trying to improve the area's image, said there are nine off-sale ABC licenses in Nestor and several farther west on Palm Avenue. Fred Smith, who moved to the neighborhood six years ago, said that if the area is going to continue to improve the community needs to tackle alcohol abuse among residents and transients. Another store selling beer and wine would not help, he said. "We need to put a cap on them, unless we want them on every comer," Smith said. Article Snapshot (49K) |
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