The nearly 2.3 million cooperators have been deciding for three weeks on whether or not to authorize the sale of alcohol to Migros. Difficult to count on one or the other result.
If the ballot ends on Saturday, the result will not be known until mid-June. None of the ten regional cooperatives oppose it, but three have not issued a voting recommendation.
In 9 cooperatives, it will take a qualified majority of two thirds of the voters to make beer and whiskey appear on the shelves of the orange giant. In Geneva, due to different statutes, half is enough.
The national prevention organization Addiction Switzerland immediately launched a campaign to oppose this commercial development of Migros: with around 900 additional sales outlets, the sale of alcohol at Migros would significantly increase alcohol-related problems in Switzerland, she writes on her website.
Young people for the sale of alcohol
These arguments seem to resonate with part of the public. Because if we are to believe a Tamedia survey published at the end of April and conducted among nearly 10,000 people, a majority of them would not want the orange giant to offer alcohol to its customers.
The no vote is particularly strong among those over 65, but the proportion decreases with age. The no falls below 50% among 18 to 34 year olds: 48% are for and 45% are against the sale of alcohol at Migros.
The alcohol ban at Migros, founded in 1925, has been in force since 1928. Its founder Gottlieb Duttweiler enacted it to protect public health and fight against ‘the all-powerful alcohol industry’. The ‘disastrous drinking habits’ drove people into poverty. Alcoholism was very widespread at that time in Switzerland.
Mr. Duttweiler had asked the delegates to decide on the ban on the sale of alcohol in 1948. He had been followed by 52.4% of the voters.
Competitive disadvantage
The ban has also been anchored in the statutes of regional cooperatives since 1983. Only Geneva is an exception.
The cooperatives of the Geneva, Neuchâtel-Fribourg and Aare regions did not issue a voting recommendation. FCM delegates have already spoken out in favor of change. Since 1930, the social situation and consumption habits have changed a lot in Switzerland, believes the FCM to justify its proposal.
Tobacco still prohibited
In the competitive battle in the retail trade, proponents of the change believe that Migros suffers from a major competitive disadvantage by depriving itself of the sale of alcohol. Coop, Lidl, Aldi and e-commerce are on the heels of Migros. Migros has already lost its position as the number one retailer in Switzerland to Coop.
Counting will begin on June 7. Migros will announce the result in mid-June in its magazine. The major retailer plans to sell beer, wine and spirits from 2023.
As for the adaptation of the statutes, it must enter into force on July 1st. In the future, Migros would only stop selling tobacco products.
/ATS