The debate over whether liquor stores should be considered essential or not during this time is missing the point. Perhaps there should be a third category: essential, non-essential, and doesn’t have to close.
I think liquor stores are falling into the “don’t have to close” category simply because of the nature of the business, rather than than that they’re deemed specifically essential. The nature of liquor stores is that adults (no children or teens) can buy what they’d like for spirited beverages and don’t usually congregate in the stores, spend hours there, or go in large groups. The reasons it makes sense to close places like bars, salons, tattoo shops, beauty stores, zoos, churches, and the like is because people DO go there in groups, with kids/elderly, and spend leisure time there. That doesn’t mean these places are less important than liquor stores – the terminology of essential vs. non is just easier and shorter to use.
Sharon, I believe it does go deeper than what your trying to explain here.
Beyond psychological and more so the physiological ramifications (dependency) being cut off would have grave repercussions.
Especially at this time.
ICU has another priority now.
I’m sure that is difficult for many to understand, however it is a reality and for some alcoholism is a disease without choice. Many chronic alcoholics cannot just choose to put the drink down without an intensive treatment plan. This disease reaches back hundreds if not thousands of years.
And if we look back at how “Prohibition” succeeded? Which it did not, it created more problems than it ever hoped to eliminate.
And in a less extreme experience, many do find comfort and relief from the stresses and worries now (or when the world was at war) having a glass of wine or a couple beers…whatever as little “helper” in just coping. Without being an alcoholic.
So…it’s okay to have a glass of wine now, I’m enjoying a couple beers. 
