Pro-Sunday liquor group points to Colorado’s success

A national group with a stake in allowing Minnesota liquor stores to open for business on Sundays is holding up Colorado as an example of success, a year after the state approved Sunday liquor sales.

A weekend story in the Fort Collins Coloradoan analyzed a year of the new law, calling it "a little like a margarita: a tiny bit sweet, a little bit sour and very popular."

"Store owners approached the event with cautious optimism, some recognizing it as a necessary compromise to keep grocery stores from selling beer and wine, some acquiescing to customer demand and others dreading the increased costs and demands put on their small businesses," Coloradoan reporter Pat Ferrier wrote. "Today, many northern Colorado store owners say their initial fears were worse than reality.

"Sales are flat to up, not great but not bad in an economic downturn that has seen consumers shop for more bargains and cheaper booze."

A link to the story was distributed by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, which has (duh) consistently supported a move to allow liquor stores to open on Sundays.

Last fall, John Wolf, president of Chicago Lake Liquors in Minneapolis, launched a grassroots effort to garner support for a similar relaxation of so-called "blue laws" in Minnesota. Although the 2008 Legislature took no action on Sunday liquor sales, the Distilled Spirits Council release this week shows that the industry hasn’t abandoned its effort.

Minnesota remains one of only 15 states that don’t allow Sunday sales in liquor stores.

5 Responses to “Pro-Sunday liquor group points to Colorado’s success”

1. Anonymous Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 1:02 pm

   On Sundays, countless modern consumers flock to malls, grocery stores and various other shops making it one of the busiest shopping days of the week. It simply doesn’t make sense that a 1930’s law forces package store owners who want to open to sit by and watch these shoppers spend money on everything else — including alcohol sales at restaurants and bars. Store owners who may want to open should be allowed. If store owners want to stay closed, stay closed.

2. Anonymous Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 2:44 pm

   Having seen what has unfolded in Colorado, Sunday sales has lead to further battles with grocery and convenience stores for Liquor Store owners. Although the article points out that Sundays have slightly helped sales, grocers badly want into the game, and are threatening the livelihoods of thousands of independent business owners across Colorado. Just a heads up as grocery stores stock less items, and can have a very negative effect on our small business owners here in Minnesota!

3. Anonymous Says:
   July 8th, 2009 at 9:48 am

   As a Colorado liquor store owner, I want to give you my opinion. You are correct that we have had battles with grocery and convenience store owners. However, they began their campaign to get beer and wine prior to Sunday Sales. We believed that the consumer wanted Sunday Sales and we did not want to be on the wrong side of the consumer. We believed that fighting that would hurt our chances if this ends up going to a ballot inititive, as the grocery argument strenthens when liquor stores won’t open up for consumers’ convenience on Sundays. We believe the best argument against grocery is promoting local owned small business, and keeping liquor as a controlled substance, not like toilet paper. Good luck.

4. Anonymous Says:
   July 8th, 2009 at 10:55 am

   I grew up in California where liquor stores were open on Sundays and grocers carried alcohol in cordoned-off, limited-access sections. Liquor stores thrived, and folks could pick up a six-pack for a Sunday backyard barbecue at their local Safeway without hassle. Everyone was happy.

   I’ve found this tempest-in-a-teapot simply boils down to the liquor store owners wanting to keep control of sales, ignoring the concerns of the customer, and conservative blue-noses wanting to continue to control how everyone runs their lives.

   Just do it.

5. Anonymous Says:
   July 8th, 2009 at 2:59 pm

   I understand the argument in Colorado that by acquiescing to Sunday sales the liquor store owners would be in a better position to repel chain store sales. I don’t buy it. What I do buy, so to speak, is a strong belief that chain store sales would be quite detrimental to the public good.

   1. Customer Choice. By supporting a competitive environment in which many smaller stores compete rather than a few large chains the customer benefits from a broader selection of products. There is no central purchasing to control the few brands represented on the shelf, and stores are rewarded for differentiating based on selection. Further, stores have a real incentive special order products based on customer requests.

   2. Accountability. Underage drinking can be a problem. If a ‘mom and pop’ store sells underage and is caught their liquor license likely will be suspended on a first offense and revoked on a subsequent offense. End of story. If Target or Safeway sells underage a cashier probably gets fired, the manager gets reprimanded, and maybe a fine is paid. Then business as usual continues.

   3. Local Economy. Most small stores are operated by the owners. These folks generally do not have advanced educations. They run the business on their personal balance sheet. If chain sales are allowed most of these stores can expect to go out of business. Personal finances will be ruined and many shopping centers will be blighted by vacant space. Maybe this is the price of progress and customer convenience. I hope not.

   Anyway, with regard to Sunday sales, no state that has enacted Sunday sales has reported an increase in sales/consumption. Instead, six days of sales are now spread over seven. This doesn’t make Sunday sales bad, just realize that they simply provide a measure of convenience and not a source of additional tax revenue.