The Wire

Alcohol chains are being gobbled up by Coles Myer and Woolworths and smaller alcohol retailers are just quietly disappearing. States which try to restrict outlets and sales and thus make it difficult for the giant retailers to penetrate the market have been fined 27 million dollars by the National Competition Council for hindering the principles of free trade. Grog shop owner Philip Connelly explained that it’s impossible to compete with the buying power of Coles and Woollies and Senator John Cherry says the Democrats want the ACCC to have the power to force the big retailers to sell some of their operation when they become too powerful within a particular market.