Cheers to compromise on grocers’ alcohol sales

It was not a perfect solution but, all in all, we’re pleased that Gov. John Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 197, allowing grocery-store companies to phase in the sale of full-strength beer and wine over 20 years. Current law limits grocery stores to selling full-strength beer, wine and other alcohol to just one location statewide.

We’re even more pleased that a potentially destructive ballot measure allowing broader sale of alcohol by grocery stores was withdrawn from the November ballot.

It’s obvious that the governor — one of the pioneers of Colorado’s craft-brewing industry through his Wynkoop Brewing Co. — agonized…