“The Mississippi Legislature is making strides toward removing the state government’s role in the distribution of alcohol.

“With a final vote tally of 104-3, the House passed HB 997 which would remove the Department of Revenue from its role of warehousing liquor and wine; allowing private businesses to handle the operation—a move that author of the bill Rep. Trey Lamar says would create jobs and lead to economic growth in Mississippi.

“A warehouse in Gluckstadt, operated by DOR, currently serves as the storage and distribution hub for over three million cases of spirits and wines annually. Backlogs and a mounting number of complaints from package stores and restaurants detailed by Rep. Lamar on the House floor have caused a groundswell of support for the privatization of the industry.

“’Their business is dependent on how that wholesale warehouse runs, and when it doesn’t run well, those businesses suffer and that means there are jobs across the state that suffer because of it,” he said. “There is no one to blame but us, but

that’s what happens when you have the government in charge of something the private sector should be doing.’”