Discount Drug Mart Letter Opposing Ohio House Bill 674 to the Ohio House Commerce and Labor Committee, June 3, 2020

Summary

A letter dated June 3, 2020 from Discount Drug Mart, an employee ownership company in Medina, Ohio, to Ms. Gayle Manning, Chair of the House Commerce and Labor Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives, opposing Ohio House Bill 674. The company says Ohio residents now decide through ballot options run by the Ohio Division of Liquor and local boards of elections whether beer, wine and spirits are sold in their community, what types and on what days, and that a provision in HB 674 would eliminate the Sunday-sales liquor distinction set by that ballot option, handing Sunday liquor sales at once to thousands of businesses and stripping the decision from local residents. It calls the company a reliable partner of the Division of Liquor. Copies went to House Speaker Larry Householder, Senate President Larry Obhof and Representative Steve Hambley.

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OFFICE AND WAREHOUSE
211 Commerce Drive
Medina, Ohio 44256-1398
(330) 725-2340

FOOD FAIR

AN EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP COMPANY

www.discount-drugmart.com
The Stores That Save YOU The Runaround!

June 3, 2020

Ms. Gayle Manning

Chair, House Commerce & Labor Committee
Ohio House of Representatives

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Dear Chair Manning:
We write this letter to express of our opposition to Ohio House Bill 674.

Today- Ohio residents are given the opportunity to decide if beer, wine and spirits are to be
sold in their community. The Ohio Division of Liquor together with local boards of elections
let Ohio residents through a series ballot options decide if any alcohol is to be sold- and if so-
then they determine what types of alcohol and on what days of the week it will be sold. The
ballot option system lets Ohio residents decide what is best for their neighborhood. A provision
inside House Bill 674 would eliminate a Sunday-sales liquor distinction that is currently
determined using the ballot option. HB 674 would in an instant give Sunday liquor sales to
thousands of businesses- who have not earned that distinction through the ballot option. HB
674 would strip the decision away from local residents and the communities in which they live.

We believe we have been a reliable and responsible partner with the Division of Liquor.
Discount Drug Mart has worked closely with the Division over our 50 years as a company to
make sure we are adhering to the established rules and regulations- we have played by the
rules. HB 674 would change the rules- and would hurt Ohio companies including our own.
Discount Drug Mart has 76 locations in Ohio- our stores are only in Ohio. For each of our
stores- we have established Sunday sales by working with the Division of Liquor and local
boards of elections to ask local residents for their approval.

Eliminating the Sunday-sales liquor ballot option would only harm Ohio companies like ours.
Most Ohio companies (e.g. Kroger, Marc’s, Heinen’s & Buehler’s) like Discount Drug Mart have
gained Sunday sales through the ballot option- while most of the out-of-state companies have
not gained Sunday sales through the ballot option. Dollar General (based in Goodlettsville,
Tennessee) has 361 locations in Ohio. Of the 361 Dollar General locations in Ohio- only 2
locations have Sunday sales. If HB 674 passes- the other 359 Dollar General locations without
Sunday sales will suddenly have that privilege. More than 60% of the Walgreens stores (based
in Deerfield, Illinois) and CVS stores (based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island) do not have Sunday
sales. By comparison- 100% of Discount Drug Mart locations have Sunday sales.

We believe HB 674 is an affront to Ohio residents that will take away their right to determine
what is best for their neighborhoods and communities. We believe HB 674 is an attack on
Ohio’s companies and their employees. Eliminating the Sunday sales distinction would take
away from Ohio companies an earned competitive advantage. The passage of HB 674 would
merely give the Sunday sales distinction to everyone.

We thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully-

Don Boodjeh LC

Chief Executive Officer President

Discount Drug Mart is an employee owned company based in Medina, Ohio. We are
celebrated our 50" year in business in 2019. Our 76 stores and pharmacies are located just in
Ohio. Discount Drug Mart employs more than 3,700 Ohioans including more than 230
pharmacists. Our founder, a pharmacist, opened our first location Elyria, Ohio. Today- his two
sons and daughter run the company. Our corporate headquarters and distribution center are
in Medina, Ohio.

Please contact Steve Ferris, Discount Drug Mart, Governmental Affairs Director, with any
questions and if you would like any additional information. Steve can be reached by telephone
216-262-6522 or by email at sferris@discount-drugmart.com.

Cc House Commerce & Labor Committee
House Speaker Larry Householder
Senate President Larry Obhof
Representative Steve Hambley


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