The war on terrorism hasn’t stopped some people from tapping the Rockies.
The week ending Sept. 15, liquor sales were up 2.86 percent from the week before. Although for the week ending Sept. 22 liquor sales were down 28 percent, they rebounded 27 percent the following week and were up for the week ending Nov. 10, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission said.
Liquor control commissioner Walter Keck said the numbers have been going up over the last few years. He said it is more likely just a fluctuation of the market.
“There is a lot more flavors, but again a lot of it is the numbers have been going up for a few years and those numbers were down for a long time before,” he said.
The commission estimates 5.38 million cases of liquor were consumed last year and to date has recorded 5.35 million cases for this year.
Keck said the largest seller of last year was vodka at 1.23 million cases. The next largest is Canadian whiskey.
But beer is still the alcoholic drink for some.
“Actually per consumption, you will discover that everybody is drinking, volume wise, more beer,” Keck said.
Lisa Hawkins, spokeswoman for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, said since 1995 the distilled spirit business has experienced some growth.
“After the attacks people were slowing down and not going out,” she said. “But now they are seeing the need to support their local businesses.”
Another possible factor in the fluctuating numbers is the holiday season.
“We are heading into the holiday season and people are buying spirits not just for their own parties but to give as gifts,” she said.
Jim Anderson, co-owner of Big Ten Party Stores, located in East Lansing, Lansing and Okemos, said it isn’t just the liquor industry seeing some rise in sales.
Anderson said the economy seems to be picking up but doubts any rise in sales is from the variety of different flavored liquors now available.
“The flavored alcohol, it is neat that there are enterprising companies that are going out and trying new things, but as far as the actual market, I don’t think it will make any significant increase in the market,” he said.
Some students who purchase alcohol or go out with friends to restaurants and bars said the crowds don’t seem to have changed.
Ryan Kosecki, an employee for the Riviera Café Restaurant & Lounge, 231 M.A.C. Ave., said business hasn’t changed.
“It’s a way for people to get away and forget about stuff for a couple of hours,” the communication junior said.
East Lansing resident John Eschbach said spending money on a drink really depends on what day it is.
“If it is near pay day, then I will drop way more than I used to,” he said.
