NEW CONTRACT LIQUOR AGANCY OPENS IN MARTINS FERRY

 

(Columbus) -- Rae Ann Estep, Superintendent of the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control, announced that a new contract liquor agency will open for business on June 12, 2002, at Convenient Food Mart located at 1 North Zane Highway in Martins Ferry. 

“The Division of Liquor Control is pleased with the opening of this new contract agency, which will allow us to better serve our customers in this underserved area,” said Estep.  The new agency will be open for spirituous liquor sales from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.                  

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The Division of Liquor Control is responsible for controlling the manufacture, distribution and sale of all alcoholic beverages in the state.  The division sells spirituous liquor through nearly 400 private, contract liquor agencies in the state.  Liquor sales and tax revenues are returned to the state's General Revenue Fund, and are also earmarked for a number of other state services including the retirement of economic development bonds and state liquor enforcement.  Regulatory functions handled by the division include the issuance of permits to the state's approximately 24,000 privately owned and operated manufacturers, distributors and retailers of alcoholic beverages, and industry compliance of the laws relating to the manufacture, importation and distribution of beer, wine and mixed beverages containing less than 21 percent alcohol by volume in Ohio. 

As one of the state's chief regulatory agencies, the Department of Commerce is responsible for numerous regulatory functions carried out by its other divisions of Financial Institutions, Securities, Real Estate, Unclaimed Funds, Labor and Worker Safety, Industrial Compliance, and State Fire Marshal.  The department's internet address is www.com.state.oh.us