Hello,
This is regarding the liquor license upgrade request and hearing on June 26th 2024.
Introduction
Franklin Liquors, located at 333 East Central St, has been family owned since 1978. Mark and Mike Lenzi are the owners, full time employees, and lifelong Franklin residents.
History
In the past we fought Table & Vine (Big Y) in getting a liquor license. At that time, it was the Town's decision that Big Y just keep beer and wine and liquor was not needed. We would like the Town to also deny BJ’s from expanding to an all Liquor license.
BJ’s Request
Please consider the points we make in this letter to you.
BJ’s will tell you they want an upgrade to a full liquor license, as their customers are asking for it. In our opinion, this request is because they can’t compete without it. You may recall the Council received a request from Dacey’s Market to also upgrade to a full liquor license. That liquor license was approved and since sold. The market is changing; if Franklin Liquors cannot object to a license on grounds of competition, how can BJ’s be approved for saying they can’t compete without it?
Franklin Is Already Unique
How you ask?
We have 4 “box” stores, Shaws, Big Y, Stop Shop, and BJ’s. Three of the four already have beer and wine. Please look at all the towns around us. NONE have even had beer and wine and only Trader Joes in Foxboro has liquor. Bellingham, Norfolk, Medway, Millis, Wrentham, Milford, Foxboro, Walpole have no big box stores with beer and wine. We are already very unique in allowing box stores to sell beer and wine.
Exposure and control of alcohol
This liquor license request to BJ’s would cause control and exposure issues. You may ask, why does this matter?
For that you must think of the safety of the community. People that don’t drink, those affected by alcoholism, and those who don’t want to expose their children to alcohol don’t need to and won’t go into a liquor store such as Franklin Liquors. Those same people must go into a box store to purchase essential daily supplies. This will increase exposure. Please also think about workers in these stores- many underage employees will now be exposed significantly more. Look for yourself how the box stores display and stock products all around the store and in uncontrolled areas.
The town CAN say no
BJ’s currently sells beer and wine, so this will not prevent the sale of alcohol at the store. You will prevent them from increasing exposure by not allowing a full alcohol license. As a corporation they also have the option to pursue this request in many of their other stores in Massachusetts: this isn’t their only store to expand in. Here are some resources for you to see other towns who have denied supermarkets, and BJ’s in the past.
Recent Articles Towns That Rejected BJ’s
BJ's Wholesale denied expansion of beer, wine displays
Mickelson was displeased with the fact that beer and wine was being displayed throughout the store without the board's approval, but Richard said those displays had been there since the license was first approved and were taken down immediately after police warned the store.
Other Box Store Denials
As selectboard airs concerns about Big Y, Price Chopper liquor license denied
Articles on Exposure
Consumer alcohol exposure in supermarkets: legislatively adherent, but a societal problem
“Alcohol misuse is a well-known public health problem. Supermarkets provide relatively easy access to alcohol for consumers; this is linked to an increase in alcohol misuse”
Children's exposure to alcohol marketing within supermarkets: An objective analysis using GPS technology and wearable cameras
“One mechanism by which on-site alcohol marketing influences child non-drinkers to consume alcohol is by its conflation with everyday consumer goods sold at supermarkets,”
Effects of Alcohol Advertising Exposure on Drinking Among Youth
“Youth who saw more alcohol advertisements on average drank more”
Young people and under-age exposure
“Further, alcohol was found to be located near staple foods such as bread and milk, reinforcing the perception of alcohol as just another ordinary food stuff.”
Call to ban alcohol in supermarkets after cameras reveal over-exposure to children
“The over-exposure of alcohol to children put it on par with everyday products such as bread and milk, causing children to drink alcohol earlier in their life”
Note: This study also noticed by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
The relationship between exposure to alcohol advertising in stores, owning alcohol promotional items, and adolescent alcohol use
“This study provides clear evidence of an association of adolescent drinking with weekly exposure to alcohol advertising in stores and with ownership of alcohol promotional items. Given their potential influence on adolescent drinking behavior, retail ads, and promotional items for alcohol deserve further study.”
Alcohol exposure in NZ supermarkets 'like advertising candy' to children, researcher says
“Children grow up seeing it offered every Friday, every Saturday, samples being given to adults,"
"Don’t market to youth”
Alcohol products should not be displayed in an area that contains products likely to be purchased by youth, such as sodas, snack foods or energy drinks — especially since some alcohol products can look like non-alcoholic drinks. Don’t display youth-oriented advertising for alcohol products in your store. Free product sampling may be inappropriate if youth are permitted in the store. Don’t advertise alcohol products in college or high school publications, or outdoors near schools or playgrounds."
Note On Exposure
Many town residents and councilors have made comments about alcohol miniatures (nips) on our streets. That is an example of overexposure to our community through the form of trash and waste. People are already being inundated with the sight of alcohol in their daily lives. Take a walk into Shaws, BJ’s, or Table & Vine (Big Y) - seeing alcohol line the shelves in a big box is even greater exposure to the community, and our youth, who have no choice to avoid these stores, either for work or purchasing supplies.
Conclusion
Franklin Liquors would like the Town Council to consider denying this liquor request based on:
• Great Exposure and Limited Control of Alcohol
• Franklin Unique Box Store Licenses
• The Use of Can’t Compete Requests
• Other Towns Having Denied OR Regretted These Requests
• BJ’s Already Has Beer/Wine-Not Preventing them from selling alcohol
• Franklin Already Has Alcohol Exposure In 3 of 4 Big Box Stores- IF you approve the other 2 box stores will want upgrade to full liquor
• Support of the growing “shop small” movement in Franklin
Thank you for your time in reviewing these details. We hope you think of all the information provided and choose to deny this request.
We would love to talk and discuss if you have questions.
Mark And Mike Lenzi
Owners
Franklin Liquors
Vintage 1978
508-528-7338
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| Voices of Franklin: The Lenzi's argument against the BJ's liquor license request |
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