People in Northwest Arkansas could soon see beer and wine on shelves in Fayetteville's Walmart stores, but it won't happen without a fight.
The application for a beer and wine permit is in, and now Walmart officials are waiting to find out if they'll be able to sell alcohol in their Fayetteville stores. Walmart officials say so many people came into Fayetteville stores asking for beer or wine, they decided to apply for a permit. That done, Walmart says they should have an answer on their application by next Wednesday, but in the meantime, they're hearing plenty of opposition.
Walmart Public Relations Manager Laurie Smalling says: "we've had several customers ask our managers and our associates in our stores in Fayetteville, "where is the beer?" Thirty-five Walmart Stores and Sam's Clubs in the state now sell beer and wine, and Smalling says they want three more permits, for Fayetteville. "We're trying to get this merchandise in our stores." But Smalling says not everyone's on board. "The Police Chief Tabor as well as Senator Sue Madison have expressed their concerns." Fayetteville Police Sgt. Rick Crisman confirms this: "the citizens are being adequately served! I mean, you do not have to go searching to find a place to get alcohol." He says Fayetteville police worry about minors selling to minors. "They can be 19 and sell alcohol at Walmart. Can't be old enough to drink it, can't be old enough to possess it, but they're old enough to sell it." Smalling shares where the alcohol will be situated, in stores: "it will be intermixed with merchandise we already have in the store, usually it's located near where the soft drinks are." Crisman says they won't be able to tell if a minor is carrying alcohol. "When we see them leave the liquor store, they've got a black bag full of something, we know what's in there. It's not a bunch of Cheetos. It's alcohol. All their bags look the same. They come out of there, it could be a bean and cheese burrito, it could be a 40 oz. malt liquor. You don't know."
But Smalling says with training and cash register restrictions, alcohol sales to minors shouldn't happen. "All of our cashiers that will be eligible to sell these items will go through a training - a computer-based learning training. They have to score 100 percent before they're able to sell the restricted items." Walmart officials say if an employee is caught selling liquor to a minor, they'll be fired immediately.
They also say they've put a petition inside the three Walmart stores residents can sign if they're in favor of the stores selling alcohol. Officials say Walmart should have an answer on this by next Wednesday
To sign the petition supporting the sale of beer and wine in Fayetteville Walmarts, log on to http://arkansas.walmartcommunity.com.
The application for a beer and wine permit is in, and now Walmart officials are waiting to find out if they'll be able to sell alcohol in their Fayetteville stores. Walmart officials say so many people came into Fayetteville stores asking for beer or wine, they decided to apply for a permit. That done, Walmart says they should have an answer on their application by next Wednesday, but in the meantime, they're hearing plenty of opposition.
Walmart Public Relations Manager Laurie Smalling says: "we've had several customers ask our managers and our associates in our stores in Fayetteville, "where is the beer?" Thirty-five Walmart Stores and Sam's Clubs in the state now sell beer and wine, and Smalling says they want three more permits, for Fayetteville. "We're trying to get this merchandise in our stores." But Smalling says not everyone's on board. "The Police Chief Tabor as well as Senator Sue Madison have expressed their concerns." Fayetteville Police Sgt. Rick Crisman confirms this: "the citizens are being adequately served! I mean, you do not have to go searching to find a place to get alcohol." He says Fayetteville police worry about minors selling to minors. "They can be 19 and sell alcohol at Walmart. Can't be old enough to drink it, can't be old enough to possess it, but they're old enough to sell it." Smalling shares where the alcohol will be situated, in stores: "it will be intermixed with merchandise we already have in the store, usually it's located near where the soft drinks are." Crisman says they won't be able to tell if a minor is carrying alcohol. "When we see them leave the liquor store, they've got a black bag full of something, we know what's in there. It's not a bunch of Cheetos. It's alcohol. All their bags look the same. They come out of there, it could be a bean and cheese burrito, it could be a 40 oz. malt liquor. You don't know."
But Smalling says with training and cash register restrictions, alcohol sales to minors shouldn't happen. "All of our cashiers that will be eligible to sell these items will go through a training - a computer-based learning training. They have to score 100 percent before they're able to sell the restricted items." Walmart officials say if an employee is caught selling liquor to a minor, they'll be fired immediately.
They also say they've put a petition inside the three Walmart stores residents can sign if they're in favor of the stores selling alcohol. Officials say Walmart should have an answer on this by next Wednesday
To sign the petition supporting the sale of beer and wine in Fayetteville Walmarts, log on to http://arkansas.walmartcommunity.com.
