Washington Liquor Prices Up; Liquor Sales Down

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Liquor sales declined in June compared with June 2011, but the state Department of Revenue says most of the decline appears to be the result of bars and restaurants stocking their shelves in May.

Liquor prices increased at many Washington retailers on June 1, when a voter-approved initiative kicking the state out of the spirits business took effect. The initiative imposed additional fees on spirits to reimburse the state for millions of dollars in lost revenue.

The agency reported Monday that spirit sales by volume declined 9.4 percent in June 2012 compared to June 2011.

May 2012 sales were nearly 27 percent higher than in May the previous year.