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Spirits aren't high over Sunday liquor bill

Contributed by: Joseph Kirchmer/YourHub.com on 2/13/2008

A proposal to overturn a ban on Sunday liquor sales, a so-called "blue law" that dates back to the Prohibition era, likely will not have a huge effect on retail sales, according to local business owners.

S.B. 82, sponsored by State Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, would allow liquor stores across the state to open up for business on Sundays. The bill passed easily Feb. 13 out of the Senate Business Labor and Technology Committee.

A similar bill was introduced by Veiga three years ago and was opposed vehemently by liquor store owners. But this year could be different, according to Diane Roth, a lobbyist for the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association, since several other states are beginning to abandon their own blue laws.

"Across the country, you'll see Sunday sales are becoming more of a national trend," she said. "Customers who move here from out of state are often surprised we have blue laws here in Colorado."

Currently, 34 states permit Sunday retail sales of alcohol, according to the Distilled Spirits Council. In the past five years, 12 states have joined the list of states allowing Sunday salesincluding Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington.

Although the Distilled Spirits Council argues that Sunday sales increase profits for liquor stores, local owners are not so sure.

"I don't think I would do any more business than I do now," said Larry May, owner of Parker Payless Liquors, 18951 E. Mainstreet. "I'm not sure if it would be that much of a plus."

May, who has owned his store for 19 years, said he's somewhat ambivalent about the proposed legislation.

"Truthfully, do I think it's an archaic law that you're not able to go to a store and buy a six pack or a bottle of wine on a Sunday? Yes I do," he said. "But do I like being closed on Sundays? Yeah."

May said he hopes if the law does pass, it would contain certain restrictions on how late a liquor store would be allowed to be open on Sundays.
"For the most part, I support it because I think the law is old and outdated," he said.

Braden Dodds, owner of Village Wines at Castle Pines, 872 W. Happy Canyon Road, also said he's unsure whether the proposed law will have any major effect on his bottom line. He said business would likely slow down on Saturdays and Mondays as a result.

"I don't think it's that big of deal whether or not we're open on Sundays," Dodds said. "I don't think it will affect anyone's morals or anything like that.


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