Control state

Definition

A state that acts as the wholesaler or the retailer of spirits itself, and sets the terms.

Why It Matters

In a control state the government is the wholesaler and sometimes the retailer, so shelf price, product selection and even how many stores may exist are set by rule and not by the operator. A store's whole competitive position can be an artifact of that, which is not a thing a buyer improves. Read the state's own rules before pricing the business, because they set the ceiling on what any owner can do with it.