Opponent Testimony on HB 669 (Sale, Delivery - Alcohol) by David P. Corey

Summary

Opponent testimony by David P. Corey, Executive VP of the Bowling Centers Association of Ohio and the Ohio Coin Machine Association, on HB 669 (Sale, Delivery - Alcohol), addressed to the House Commerce & Labor Committee chaired by Gayle Manning and dated Tuesday, June 9, 2020. The testimony describes HB 669 as a bill that would allow on premise D-permit establishments to sell alcohol on a to-go basis permanently. It states that the two organizations represent approximately 6,000 Ohio employees and that they supported to-go sales as a temporary measure during COVID-19 closures but oppose making the policy permanent. The testimony argues that permanent to-go sales would draw customers out of establishments, reducing jukebox, pool, darts and bowling activity and KENO sales.

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House Commerce & Labor Committee
Chairperson Gayle Manning & Ranking Member Michele Lepore-Hagan
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
HB 669 — Sale, Delivery - Alcohol
Opponent Testimony by
David P. Corey, Executive VP — Bowling Centers Association of Ohio &
the Ohio Coin Machine Association

Chairperson Manning, Vice Chairperson Dean, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan & House Commerce &
Labor Committee Members, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you regarding HB 669, which would
allow on premise D-permit establishments to sell alcohol on a “to-go” basis permanently. As mentioned, my
name is David Corey, and I’m representing two organizations today as their Executive Vice President - the
Bowling Centers Association of Ohio, which consists of 150 of the 225 bowling centers in the state of Ohio, and
the Ohio Coin Machine Association, which is made up of 52 companies that operate jukeboxes, pool tables,
electronic dart machines and video games in bars and other d-permit locations. In total, both organizations
represent approximately 6,000 Ohio employees.

During COVID-19, the legislature wisely allowed bars to serve alcohol on a “to-go” basis as a temporary
measure to help businesses during financial hardship while they were closed due to the Governor’s Stay Safe
at Home Order. While we believe that was a good idea while businesses were closed, we are not in support of
that policy being permanent. The main reason is that the key to the long-term success of bricks and mortar
hospitality businesses and their partners (like coin machine companies) is attracting and maintaining
customers INSIDE their establishments.

By allowing this temporary policy to become permanent, it hurts hospitality businesses by taking
people out of their locations. No one plays that extra song on the jukebox, or the extra game of darts or pool.
The bowler may decide to take the drink home instead of bowling another game while having that last beer.
All these factors will actually hurt these businesses in the long-term. The policy, which we supported while
people were ordered to stay at home and while bars and bowling centers were closed was a good idea, but we
believe it should not become permanent law.

We also believe it will hurt KENO sales as it takes people out of the locations where KENO is most
successful. And, as we all know, the state needs as much income as possible to offset looming budget cuts.
Finally, we are puzzled why convenient stores, grocery stores and organizations like MADD are not opposed to
HB 699, it seems that it is counterintuitive to their business operations and policies. Anyway, for these and

other reasons (such as having an open container while driving) we believe HB 699 should not receive favorable

consideration for passage. Thank you and I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have at this time.

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