Saturday, July 5, 2008

Sunday Funday!


Colorado liquor stores gearing up for Sunday sales

Independent liquor stores are gearing up for an extra consumer rush on July 6 when it becomes legal for them to sell liquor, wine and beer on Sundays. Dozens of new Colorado laws go into effect July 1. But consumers — and retailers — will have to wait for the first Sunday of July to celebrate the liquor law change. "When they did this in other states, it didn't just spread business out another day, they had a lot more customers," said Ron Vaughn, owner of Argonaut Wine and Liquor in Denver. Vaughn's store will be open that Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but if customers want him to stay open later, Vaughn says the customers are always right.

Gov. Bill Ritter, who gave his stamp of approval in April, said times have changed since a 1933 law banned Sunday sales to protect the Christian sabbath. Ritter said there was "great public sentiment" to change the law, calling it a benefit for consumers who only have Sundays to shop. Colorado is the 35th state to permit Sunday alcohol sales at retail stores. It's the 13th state to pass such a law since 2002, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the trade group that has lobbied for such laws across the country. The council lost an attempt to repeal the Colorado blue law three years ago. Liquor stores opposed a change then, but that changed last year when owners learned supermarkets wanted to sell full-strength beer and wine. A Senate committee killed the supermarket proposal in February, saying it would hurt Colorado's independent liquor stores and the craft brewers that the stores promote. Supermarkets and convenience stores are now pushing for legislation to allow them to sell full-strength beer, arguing that it's not fair to keep them selling only 3.2 percent beer.

Source- ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS


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