Dollar General, a discount general merchandise retailer with well over a thousand outlets, is looking to see how customers respond to the sale of beer products in a few of its stores.
 
That news upset Starke, Florida, resident Laura Finley, who says beer has begun to be sold in Dollar General's Starke, Middleburg, and St. Augustine stores. She mentions she has spoken to a customer service representative at corporate headquarters by phone, as well as to other employees who are not happy with the sales or the new closing time of 10 p.m. at the selected stores. 
 
Dollar General spokesperson Tawn Earnest confirmed there was currently experimentation with the sale of beer products at regional stores, but did not specify stores or confirm the hours change. However, she assures that the retailer is following all legal requirements in the sale of beer and says no final decision has been made as to whether it will stay.
 
"A decision hasn't yet been made on whether to make beer products available permanently," Earnest explains. "A decision will be made based, in part, by the reaction we get from customers."
 
With that door open, Finley is encouraging everyone to call Dollar General's corporate office and let their feelings be known if they would prefer to keep it a business that does not include beer sales in their community. Until company officials change their mind, she does not intend to patronize the store in her town, saying she does not believe the beer sales agree with the company's stated mission of "serving customers with a better life."