Washington voters deregulated alcohol sales in their state this week, and it should be a result heard around the country. The election will almost certainly help opponents of the state store system in Pennyslvania, which has come under renewed attack over the past several years.
More importantly, and though it seems contradictory, the victory will spur the the beer and spirts lobbies to push harder for HR 1161, their attempt to limit federal control of booze regulation and to allow the states to manage their own liquor laws as they best see fit. More, after the jump: