I grew up surrounded by liquor.
Now, before you go thinking this is a story about my broken alcoholic home, I should explain that both of my parents at one time were the managers of the liquor departments at the stores where they worked.
So while our house was full of wines and liquors—free samples from vendors—none of the bottles were ever opened. My parents rarely, if ever, drank.
My mother worked in the liquor department of a Walgreens in Roscoe Village, but in the 1990s, the company ended alcohol sales at most of its stores in order to maintain a more family-friendly atmosphere.
However, in these rough economic times, the Deerfield-based drugstore is reconsidering selling beer and wine in order to make more profit.
"We are looking at whether it has the potential to be a traffic driver, but we don't have specific plans to announce now," a Walgreens spokesperson said Thursday.
So there you have it: when family values don't work out, turn to beer.
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As Homer Simpson said, "Here's to alcohol, the cause of—and solution to—all life's problems."
Matt Bartosik, editor of Off the Rocks' next issue and "between blogs" blogger, never lets a free bottle of liquor go unopened.
