Sunday Alcohol

[Mike Sixel]

Sigh. Once again, your state "senators" voted against freedom for the 4+million* of us that would like to buy liquor on Sundays, and with some bizzarro faction that thinks Sunday sales are bad.

 

look, you don't want to work on Sundays? Don't open your store........

 

*I'm assuming some kids want to buy on Sunday too

[biggentleben]

I have never personally understood the issue with either side of the fence.  I don't get why it should be a state-mandated thing, and I don't understand why people couldn't pick up their alcohol Monday-Saturday.  I remember the faux outrage when living in Minnesota and New Year's Eve happened to be a Sunday.  Liquor stores across the border in Wisconsin were expecting huge sales days.  I walked into my local liquor store on December 30th, Saturday, and I was one of only two people in a store near the U of M in Minneapolis. The shelves were fully stocked, and I purchased everything I would need for the next day.  Interestingly enough, none of it went bad by the time it was opened on Sunday.  Craziness!

 

On the same level, a store owner should not need the state to assist them in taking a day off.  Akin to Chik-Fil-A having Sundays off, regardless of the reason, I would have no issue with taking the day off. Some get bugged by Chik-Fil-A being closed due to religious reasons, but I also had multiple days that one of my favorite cafes back when I lived in White Bear Lake would be closed because the owners were Jewish.  I didn't go pound on the door of the cafe because they were in the midst of celebrating a Jewish holiday.  That said, no matter your religious affiliation, I have no issues with you wanting to have your store closed one day per week.  Just do that rather than paying the money to lobby for a "no Sunday sales" state mandate.  I just don't really understand either side in the discussion.

[Brock Beauchamp]

If a liquor store owner wants to stay closed on Sunday, more power to them. Having the state dictate to them that they need close on Sundays is idiotic.

 

I don't understand the issue here... Liquor store owners would see a sales increase were they to open on Sundays. Why are some rejecting extra money? Close on Monday if you want a day off (or whatever is their slowest sales day). Or stay closed on Sunday, I don't care... But the option to remain open should be in the owner's hands, not the state.

[Mike Sixel]

To me, it is simple. The state should not restrict, make illegal, things that don't cause clear harm. You would never pass the law now, so you should repeal it now.

 

I am big on freedom.......

 

And, the whole "why didn't you buy it on Saturday" thing is silly. What if someone decides to come over at the last minute? What if (as happened to me) a friend flies in on Sunday, and wants to bring a bottle of wine over for dinner? What if I decide on Sunday I want a beer, but it turns out I only have wine in the house, or 4 guys decided to hang out in the back yard because it is nice out and I only have 3 beers?

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

Same with cars, btw.......I can buy a gun, but not a car, or a six pack of beer? I can buy anything else that is sold legally, but not transportation or 1 kind of beverage?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

To me, it is simple. The state should not restrict, make illegal, things that don't cause clear harm. You would never pass the law now, so you should repeal it now.

Yep. Yep. Yep.

 

There is no harm caused to anyone by selling on Sunday unless you jump feet-first into the quagmire of state-enforced religious ideals promoted by some Christians.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Yep. Yep. Yep.

 

There is no harm caused to anyone by selling on Sunday unless you jump feet-first into the quagmire of state-enforced religious ideals promoted by some Christians.

 

To be fair, it isn't just some Christians, there are other religions that feel the same way.

 

FREEDOM!

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

To be fair, it isn't just some Christians, there are other religions that feel the same way.

 

FREEDOM!

Sure, but those religions don't have enough political sway in Minnesota to impact much of anything. In no way am I suggesting that other religions are somehow more enlightened than Christians.

[biggentleben]

 

To me, it is simple. The state should not restrict, make illegal, things that don't cause clear harm. You would never pass the law now, so you should repeal it now.

 

I am big on freedom.......

 

And, the whole "why didn't you buy it on Saturday" thing is silly. What if someone decides to come over at the last minute? What if (as happened to me) a friend flies in on Sunday, and wants to bring a bottle of wine over for dinner? What if I decide on Sunday I want a beer, but it turns out I only have wine in the house, or 4 guys decided to hang out in the back yard because it is nice out and I only have 3 beers?

 

I always keep my place stocked.  I don't get how that's an issue.  I may not have it cold, but there's always a supply of beer, wine, and liquor depending on the crowd that may show up.  Would you let yourself run out of milk, bread, or ketchup?  If your local grocer was closed on Sundays (as is the case in many small communities), would there then be a movement to force the grocer to be open on Sunday?

[Mike Sixel]

Why make it illegal? There is no good reason. Why should I be required by law to plan ahead? What if the beer I have is all hoppy, and my guests hate that? What of they forget their wine on the way over, and want to by some?

 

Why do I have to come up with millions of scenarios, when there is zero reason for it to be banned?

[Mike Sixel]

if the grocer chooses that, that is freedom. If the government required them to be closed or opened, that would be wrong. That's kind of my point here.

 

Why is it legal to sell clothing, or gas, or food?

[diehardtwinsfan]

If a liquor store owner wants to stay closed on Sunday, more power to them. Having the state dictate to them that they need close on Sundays is idiotic.

 

I don't understand the issue here... Liquor store owners would see a sales increase were they to open on Sundays. Why are some rejecting extra money? Close on Monday if you want a day off (or whatever is their slowest sales day). Or stay closed on Sunday, I don't care... But the option to remain open should be in the owner's hands, not the state.

We have this same issue in Indiana. I have a tough time believing it's the liquor store lobby. I'd think bar owners would be all over it, as a big form of competition is closed on Sundays. But yeah, I think it's silly. If they cannot remain profitable, then close the store. The Walmarts of the world will be happy to pick up those sales.

 

As to Ben's point, the problem is that sometimes life dictates that you aren't going shopping on Saturday. I like picking up a bottle of wine to split with my wife, but that doesn't happen shopping on Sunday, and sometimes, that's when I shop. Instead, I buy nothing when that happens and no one gets my money. The law is stupid (one of many stupid laws). It's on me to come into work sober on Monday, not the state.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Sure, but those religions don't have enough political sway in Minnesota to impact much of anything. In no way am I suggesting that other religions are somehow more enlightened than Christians.

I don't think this is religion though getting in the way. Yeah, there are some that don't want to work/shop on Sundays. I get that. That's their call, but them controlling it from a political standpoint is long overwith.

[Squirrel]

So, are liquor sales in stores like Walmart and Target restricted, too? It's been a while since I've dealt with those restrictions. I can buy pretty much all day long on Sunday here.

[Mike Sixel]

You can only buy liquor in liquor stores, not any other kid of store......but let's fight one battle at a time here.

[biggentleben]

 

Why make it illegal? There is no good reason. Why should I be required by law to plan ahead? What if the beer I have is all hoppy, and my guests hate that? What of they forget their wine on the way over, and want to by some?

Why do I have to come up with millions of scenarios, when there is zero reason for it to be banned?

 

I never said I supported the ban, but I don't get why it's such a big deal, either.

[biggentleben]

 

So, are liquor sales in stores like Walmart and Target restricted, too? It's been a while since I've dealt with those restrictions. I can buy pretty much all day long on Sunday here.

 

They are here in South Dakota.  Walmart has their hard liquor completely locked up on Sundays here and their beer aisle identifies which of their selection is legal to sell (I honestly couldn't tell you what it is that is able to be purchased on Sundays).

[Squirrel]

I think Sunday sales were restricted when I lived in Canada, too. And that was an altogether different thing ... I think you bought beer in one place and wine, hard liquors in another. Cant remember now how that worked. I don't drink hardly at all so I hardly purchase so I just don't remember.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I never said I supported the ban, but I don't get why it's such a big deal, either.

 

I think it's the principle of the matter.  It's a stupid KIND of law to have on the books.

[biggentleben]

 

I think it's the principle of the matter.  It's a stupid KIND of law to have on the books.

 

And that part I agree with.  I've just never gotten why people are so upset about a business not being open on a day.  That doesn't mean by any means I support the law being on the books, it's just that I rarely hear anyone bring the "it's a stupid KIND of law" argument.  It's typically about "I need my beer, give me my beer!"

[Mike Sixel]

Really? No one I know makes that argument, they all argue it shouldn't be a law......

[JB_Iowa]

I think the only time you can't buy liquor in Iowa is in the dead of morning -- 2 a.m. to 6 a.m..  That's probably to give the bars assistance in getting the drunks to leave.

 

Sunday sales do require a separate permit -- gotta maximize those revenues.

 

And yes, the alcohol is in a separate area in Wally World -- with doors that close & lock.  But our local Hy-Vee has the liquor right in the aisles with other groceries-- I don't think they ever do much business from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.   And Fareway is closed on Sundays and always from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. so their liquor is with the regular groceries.

 

And we have a specal provision that allows regular Mon-Sat licenses to  cover New Year's Eve if it is on a Sunday.

 

But I remember when I was a kid, people used to drive to SDak to buy beer on Sunday.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

So, are liquor sales in stores like Walmart and Target restricted, too? It's been a while since I've dealt with those restrictions. I can buy pretty much all day long on Sunday here.

They are in Indiana.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

And that part I agree with.  I've just never gotten why people are so upset about a business not being open on a day.  That doesn't mean by any means I support the law being on the books, it's just that I rarely hear anyone bring the "it's a stupid KIND of law" argument.  It's typically about "I need my beer, give me my beer!"

 

If a liquor store WANTS to be closed on Sundays, I'm quite fine with that.  It's the law saying they aren't allowed to sell on Sundays that bothers me.   That, is the difference.  Like Levi said, the law is stupid.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Whether the law is a big deal or not, it's stupid.

 

And I try to avoid supporting stupid legislation or politicians that support stupid legislation.

 

The law is actually a *really* good example of political ineptitude with a dose of corruption mixed in for good measure (or, at the very least, putting the constituency's desires behind donors' pocketbooks). There's no reason this law should exist. There's no defensible position to support this law that stays within the bounds of common sense.

 

Which makes it a good litmus test of your local politician. Mine voted in favor of Sunday sales. How did your politician vote? Look it up and react accordingly.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

This issue / non-issue was bound to bubble to the surface eventually. In 2002 in Minnesota, we actually made bar closing time a minor campaign issue, because government tyranny, founding fathers, etc. So, a nod of thanks to those of you pressing this issue at a less politically charged moment.

[biggentleben]

 

This issue / non-issue was bound to bubble to the surface eventually. In 2002 in Minnesota, we actually made bar closing time a minor campaign issue, because government tyranny, founding fathers, etc. So, a nod of thanks to those of you pressing this issue at a less politically charged moment.

 

I remember well.  The changes in time were a big change between my two stints working at Grandma's at Seven Corners.  That, and the smoking ban, drastically changed bar culture in about a 3 year span.

[USAFChief]

Brock's got it right. When enough people make it a campaign issue, politicians will take note. But my guess is, there are more than enough people who like the law to keep it as it is.

[kab21]

 

I always keep my place stocked.  I don't get how that's an issue.  I may not have it cold, but there's always a supply of beer, wine, and liquor depending on the crowd that may show up.  Would you let yourself run out of milk, bread, or ketchup?  If your local grocer was closed on Sundays (as is the case in many small communities), would there then be a movement to force the grocer to be open on Sunday?

 

I always run out of stuff in my kitchen and then I run to the grocery to get it.  That happens to a lot of people.  In addition to that I can't drink beer (quite sad) so I'm certainly not going to stock it just in case someone might come over.

 

Please tell me that they don't sell 3.2% beer anymore.  That was dumb.

[biggentleben]

 

I always run out of stuff in my kitchen and then I run to the grocery to get it.  That happens to a lot of people.  In addition to that I can't drink beer (quite sad) so I'm certainly not going to stock it just in case someone might come over.

 

Please tell me that they don't sell 3.2% beer anymore.  That was dumb.

 

There is 3.2% beer and wine that can be sold at any time.  In South Dakota, beer can be sold any time, but hard liquor/full alcohol wine cannot be sold on Sunday.