Does Las Vegas Need A Liquor Store in Baggage Claim?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 22nd 2010 at 7:02PM

We've talked about the tourism slump in Las Vegas many times. It has had a major effect on hotels, restaurants and stores. But it has also affected the main airport in Las Vegas, which has seen revenue slump as airline carriers drop flight frequency. McCarran International Airport officials have found a uniquely Vegas way to fight back, they want to open up a liquor store in the baggage claim area. That's right, no more waiting until you get all the way to the Vegas Strip to liquor up. It's not really such a big shift for an airport that already has whole islands of slot machines but some people think its not really appropriate, even for Las Vegas. There are fears that the liquor store will lead to public drunkeness in the baggage claim (imagine drunken passengers with lost luggage, scary).

According to the Las Vegas Sun, the airport is seeking approval to open up a request for bids for the baggage claim liquor concession. Shops already sell duty-free liquor at McCarran and of course, at many airports all around the world but this may be the first baggage claim liquor store in the U.S. The store would be located near the escalators that lead from the D gates to baggage claim. Airport officials are couching the move as a necessary step to preserve jobs and help the Las Vegas economy but this may be a step too far, even for Vegas.

Tags: airport liquor store, AirportLiquorStore, las vegas airport, LasVegasAirport, MccarranAirport