As of August, Washington drinkers pay an even more obscene amount for liquor, but restaurants and bars are terrified to protest or complain about the gluttonous price increase on hard alcohol that went in to effect this month, and nobody said–or could say–boo; you can read more in my June column HERE(“They Got Us by the Booze,” June 3rd). Backstory in 50 words or less: The Washington State Liquor Control Board upped their profit margin on all hard liquor to cover a budget shortfall. Had they implemented a tax or fee ($1 per liter, which adult beverage distributors supported), the LCB would have had to ask for our permission or the legislature’s via vote first.Clever of them, sucks for us. Restaurants and bars, vote with your feet the only way you can–drop your inventory. Get rid of redundancies in product at the low-end; if you carry 20 vodkas, shake it down to ten. Figure out what it is you sell and shave your selection in all other areas. Pair that shit down by 10 or even 20% if you can and then lodge your complaints to DRAW(Distillery Representatives Association of Washington), who may not be able to do much as their plea for a flat fee increase per liter was denied, but it’s all you’ve got. Hitting them in the purse is the only way. To consumers, fight for your right, you know: email the WSLCB and bitch to the governor.