Local liquor sales up fourfold from one year ago

September’s sales at the state liquor store in Bonners Ferry increased four times more than the state average for the same time period last year.

The Canadians get the credit.

“In talking with the (liquor) store manager (in Bonners Ferry), they had a very strong month with visits from Canadians,” said Larry Maneely, deputy superintendent for the Idaho State Liquor Dispensary.

“There was a change in their exchange rate that benefited the Canadians and they were just swarming from late August through September,” Maneely continued. “It was an incredibly busy month. When they come to town for anything, they stay and spend money everywhere in town.”

Across Idaho, liquor sales for September rose 3 percent compared to September 2007. In Boundary County, they rose 11 percent for the same time period.

Joel MacDonald, manager for the liquor store in Bonners Ferry, noted that last month, the Canadian dollar was on par with the American dollar. That’s changed. As of Monday, the Canadian dollar was worth 75 cents here.

“We did a very brisk business (last month),” MacDonald said.

Since the start of the fiscal year on July 1, the county experienced a 6.1 percent increase in sales over one year ago. Statewide, the increase was 6.5 percent.

In related matters, the Idaho State Liquor Dispensary says the ailing economy appears to be boosting sales of booze at state-run stores in North Idaho. Total liquor sales from Lewiston north to the Canadian border have increased 6.5 percent from July 1 to Sept. 31 compared to the same period last year.

Dispensary Superinten-dent Dyke Nally claims people are avoiding bar and restaurant tabs to purchase liquor at state liquor stores. He says people are doing more private parties at home and not going out as much while the economy struggles.

Nally says even in bad times people are not going to give up some pleasures, and that liquor “seems to be fairly recession proof.”