This week in drinking:

Speaking with the Seattle PI on Thursday, Governor Chris Gregoire questioned the notion that privatizing liquor sales would mean big profits for Washington State. Democrat Tim Sheldon is leading the crusade to get the state out of the booze biz, more on that here.
[PI]

On Twitter, Seattle City Search editor Chelsea Lin reported that Zig Zag Cafe will soon move to a cash-only policy. This is not a done deal, part-owner Kacy Fitch told me earlier this week, but confirmed that the bar is considering moving away from credit cards by this summer. The move is a response to new policies that make restaurant and bar owners liable for fraudulent transactions at their establishments. Look for a more indepth story soon.

This one comes via Seattle Weekly’s Voracious Blog: The My Ballard blog reports that the very divey Bit Saloon will not close after all. The new owners plan to give it a much-needed update, but will retain “Bit” in the bar’s name. And thank goodness for that.
[MB]

Seattle Beer News listed ten beer highlights from 2009—an interesting set of beers if you can get your hands on them.
[SBN]

One more end-of-year/beginning-of-year top something list before we close out for the season: On Capitol Hill Blog’s list of “Nine things to look forward to in 2010,” contributor Seadevi reports “Vermillion will begin serving the good stuff (i.e. spirits).”
I love Vermillion (the mac and cheese is amazing), and can’t wait to see what they do cocktailwise.
[CHS]

Finally: this just in from a Seattle Met factchecker: Jamie Boudreau is now working at Knee High Stocking Co. Here’s a bar that I would love to love, with Boudreau’s drinks that might just happen.