Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

What do you think of Migros’ decision to consider selling alcohol? How would you vote?

Hosted by: Thomas Stephens

Migros, one of Switzerland’s largest and most popular retailers, is thinking about stocking alcohol after almost a century of abstinence.

From the article Retail giant Migros confronts its complicated history with alcohol

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

Murielle
Murielle
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

Hello,
This is a debate that makes me smile a little because in France, we do NOT have any department store that does not sell alcohol. Moreover, I didn't know that Migros didn't sell alcohol. It's true that it distorts the spirit of the founder but other times, other customs ...

Bonjour,
C'est un débat qui me fait un peu sourire parce qu'en France, nous n'avons PAS de grand magasin ne vendant pas de l'alcool. De plus, j'ignorais que la Migros n'en proposait pas. C'est vrai que ça dénature un peu l'esprit du fondateur mais autre temps, autres moeurs ...

Daniel Vuilliomenet
Daniel Vuilliomenet
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

I don't understand this topic very well because if one knows a little bit about the giant Migros, everyone should know that Migros owns the Denner chain of stores which has always sold alcohol, so this means that the alcohol that Migros sells through Denner is not sufficient for its turnover? In many cases Denner is located in the same buildings of Migros, so ???

Je ne comprends pas très bien ce thème car si l’on connaît un peu le géant Migros tout un chacun devrait savoir que Migros est propriétaire de la chaîne de magasins Denner qui vend de l’alcool depuis toujours, donc cela signifie que l’alcool que vends Migros par le biais de Denner n’est pas suffisant pour son chiffre d’affaire ?? Dans beaucoup de cas Denner se trouve dans les mêmes bâtiments de Migros, donc ???

YERLY
YERLY
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

This is a very bad idea. An idea that is contrary to the founder of Migros. It is only a financial matter. Denner, owned by Migros, sells alcohol, and that is enough.

C'est une très mauvaise idée. Idée , contraire au Fondateur de Migros. Ce n'est qu'une affaire financière. Denner, propriété de Migros vend de l'alcool , et cela suffit.

Malik Berkati
Malik Berkati
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

I am absolutely against the sale of alcohol at Migros, it is a question of principles: it is the only place where someone with an alcohol problem can shop without being in permanent temptation. As a member of the cooperative, I voted against it, but as I belong to the Geneva cooperative where a simple majority is sufficient, and not two thirds as in the other cooperatives in Switzerland, I fear that it will not pass in this canton!

Je suis absolument contre la vente d'alcool à la Migros, c'est une question de principes: c'est le seul endroit où quelqu'un.e ayant un problème d'alcool peut faire ses courses sans être dans la tentation permanente. Étant sociétaire, j'ai voté contre, mais comme je fais partie de la coopérative de Genève où la majorité simple est suffisante, et non des deux tiers comme dans les autres coopératives de Suisse, je crains que cela ne passe dans ce canton!

Nicole
Nicole

I think they should stick to their policy and NOT sell them. There are enough other places where you can get it.

Hawa
Hawa
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

it's a shame... the Duttweiler spirit is the DNA of Migros...

c'est très dommage... l'esprit des Duttweiler, c'est l'ADN de la Migros...

Lynx
Lynx

I hate shopping. Everything in one place is always a plus.

KEDROS
KEDROS

Würde Migros Alkohol ins Sortiment aufnehmen, dann müssten ALLE Filialen vergrössert werden... einfach weil der Platz dazu fehlen würde.
BESSER wäre es, wenn Migros separate Alkohol-Läden eröffnen würde in denen man das GANZE Sortiment probieren könnte, also im Prinzip eine Weinhandlung mit Spirituosen aller Art.
Das wäre eine sehr gute Lösung.

Anonymous
Anonymous
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

I agree, I believe in the ideals of old-fashioned Migros and I don't buy anything from them anymore!

Condivido, io che credo negli ideali della Migros vecchia maniera non acquisto piú nulla da loro!

Lh2905
Lh2905

Haha Nicholas is near or next to every Migros in Geneva. So who cares? The alcohol is there if you want it. Migros’ decision does nothing that will increase alcoholism.

swjj
swjj

Reading the comments below, I am struck by their similarity with the ideas that spawned Prohibition in the United States, and I think we all know how that ended. Alcohol has been part of the human diet for all (known) history, so humans like it and want it to be available. I am very suspicious of those who would deny it to others on the basis of presumed superior morals. If Migros wishes to sell it, then self-appointed "saints" have no right to deny them the right to do so.

jacques nezam chahkar
jacques nezam chahkar
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

Do not encourage alcoholic products

Ne pas encourager les produits alcoolisés

Ana Cristina Zanelli
Ana Cristina Zanelli
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

I am against

Je suis contre

liviotto
liviotto
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

I admit to being a bit nostalgic, but the history of Migros has been in my heart since I was a teenager, reading and re-reading Duttweiler's Red Book. Migros has already betrayed my myths about it several times; for example with the extension of its assortment to branded items or the abolition of sales trucks. There was poetry of course, but also a lot of devotion to the principles of public service. It was a pity to break the frontier of alcohol sales too! Migros is becoming more and more like the others.... Will %culture? the weekly magazine with so many nice in-depth contributions, soon disappear? Maybe the law will one day allow packaging in German only and, after digesting so much, even in English only? It seems to me that Switzerland is becoming less and less unique.

ammetto di essere un po' nostalgico, ma la storia della Migros mi è entrata nel cuore fin da adolescente, con la lettura e rilettura del libro rosso di Duttweiler. La Migros ha già tradito più volte le mie mitizzazioni su di essa; ad esempio con l'estensione del suo assortimento agli articoli di marca o la soppressione dei camion di vendita. C'era poesia certo, ma anche tanta devozione ai principi del servizio pubblico. Peccato infrangere anche la frontiera della vendita di alcoolici! La Migros sempre più uguale agli altri... Fra breve cadrà anche il %culturale? il settimanale con tanti bei contributi di approfondimento? Forse la legge permetterà un giorno un packaging in sola lingua tedesca e, dopo aver digerito tanto, anche soltanto in inglese? Una Svizzera, mi pare, sempre meno unica.

Neuling_89
Neuling_89
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

Why does Migros want to sell alcohol now? In my opinion, the cooperative is just taking advantage of the situation.
It is simply a strange time. Since the lock-downs and other measures, not only alcohol consumption but also gambling consumption is being promoted wherever possible. Do we want to turn a consumer society into an addictive society?

Will I live to see the time when words like ethics, morals, conscience and decency have disappeared from the vocabulary of the general population or have been relativized to the point of no return? As it seems to me, research data is only used for bad. Consumption, consumption, consumption and how can we cultivate it even more? How can we further promote old, harmful but profitable, the wishful thinking of others? Our biology is being used against us. You don't have to become religious to realize how terrible gluttony is and what it does to our brains and humans. It's the kind of behavior they're trying to cultivate into normality.

They always say, "We want it, all that stuff.
Addictive stuff, too. Why do you think that is?
Oh yes - precisely these make us addicted.

Sugar, gambling, alcohol, salt, fat - more and more of it; cheaper and cheaper; more and more unnatural.

Simply irresponsible on the part of all those who take part in it and give such things even more space in our society.

Warum will Migros nun Alkohol verkaufen? Meiner Meinung nach nutzt die Genossenschaft doch bloss die Gunst der Stunde.
Es ist einfach eine komische Zeit. Nicht nur Alkohol- sondern auch Glücksspielkonsum fördert man seit den Lock-Downs und sonstigen Massnahmen, wo es nur geht. Will man aus einer Konsumgesellschaft eine Suchtgesellschaft gestalten?

Werde ich die Zeit noch erleben, in der Worte wie Ethik, Moral, Gewissen und Anstand aus dem Vokabular der breiten Bevölkerung verschwunden sind bzw. bis zum Geht nicht Mehr relativiert worden sind? Wie es mir scheint, verwendet man Forschungsdaten nur für schlechtes. Konsum, Konsum, Konsum und wie können wir ihn noch mehr kultivieren? Wie können wir altbewährtes, schädliches aber profitables, den Wunschvorstellung anderer weiter fördern? Man verwendet unsere Biologie doch gurndsätzlich gegen uns. Man muss nicht religiös werden, um zu erkennen wie schrecklich Völlerei ist und was es unserem Hirn und dem Menschen antut. Solches Verhalten will man wohl zur Normalität hin kultivieren.

Es heisst ja immer so schön: Wir wollen es ja, all das Zeugs.
Auch Süchtigmacher. Warum wohl?
Ach ja - Gerade diese machen uns süchtig.

Zucker, Glücksspiel, Alkohol, Salz, Fett - immer mehr davon; immer günstiger; immer unnatürlicher.

Einfach verantwortungslos seitens aller die sich daran beteiligen und sochen Dingen noch mehr Platz in unserer Gesellschaft einräumen.

Giacometti
Giacometti
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

1) Customers at Migros can choose for themselves whether they want to buy alcoholic drinks or not, just like in other supermarkets and shops.
2) I think Migros should be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages, as this will certainly increase their sales. A win-win situation for the customers and Migros.
Many thanks

1) Die Kund/innen bei der Migros können selber wählen, ob sie alkoholische Getränke kaufen wollen oder nicht, wie bei den anderen Supermärkten und Läden auch.
2) Ich finde, die Migros sollte alkoholische Getränke verkaufen dürfen, da dies sicher auch ihre Umsätze steigern wird. Eine Win-Win-Situation also für die Kund/innen und die Migros.
Vielen Dank

max
max

Not a good idea –I will vote against it! Let's remember that Migros is Duttweiler's legacy. He donated the cooperative to the Swiss people on the condition that no addictive products be sold. Allegations that he once had considered selling alcohol are not verifiable. It was his last Will and must be respected. A minor argument against is that this change would jeopardize Denner's position. Sorry folks, I am not a fan of the German retailers.

Sonnenlicht
Sonnenlicht
@max

Warum deutschen Einzelhändler? Was hat die Schweiz damit zu tun?

Auch ich bin dagegen, dass die Migros Alkohol verkauft.

max
max
@Sonnenlicht

Quite a lot! The two hard discounters have an unfair competitive advantage. They are branches of their German companies which allows them to avoid the infamous "Swiss Pricing" by using their group's own supply channels. While discriminatory pricing is illegal within the EU, their suppliers commonly impose bloated prices upon Swiss importers. When our competent ministry had criticized this bad practice, this was the laconic response from Brussels: “This law only applies to member states”...

Coolmum
Coolmum

If Migros have lasted this long without selling alcohol ... why change, there are plenty other places to buy it !! I'm not 'teetotal', I don't live in Switzerland, but when there I have always loved shopping in Migros and never even noticed that they didn't sell alcohol !!!

Frank-11
Frank-11

I enjoy beer and wine, but it's pleasing to go to Migros and see that they devote shelf space to other things rather than alcohol.

Coop has a massive alcohol section but they can lack range in other things.

Anyway, Migros already owns Denner and Migolino and alcohol is readily available there.

Leave the booze out of Migros, especially for those people who make a strong choice to shop there for this reason, moral or recovering alcoholics.

HAT
HAT

I vote no. There are enough liquor stores.

External Content
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you.

The latest debates

The newest opportunities to discuss and debate key topics with readers from around the world

Biweekly

The SBC Privacy Policy provides additional information on how your data is processed.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR