State to put a cork in 'blue law'
Ritter will sign Sunday liquor sales bill Monday
By Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published April 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Seventy-five years after the end of Prohibition, Colorado is set to repeal a Prohibition-era "blue law" banning Sunday liquor sales.
Gov. Bill Ritter has scheduled a signing ceremony for Monday at the state Capitol for a bill to allow liquor stores to open Sundays, Ritter's office said.
The measure - which legislators passed last month - is set to take effect July 1. It would be voluntary for liquor store owners.
"It's going to be really good for consumers; they've been asking for it for a long time," said Jeanne McEvoy, owner of Aspen Leaf Liquor in Loveland and executive director of the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association, which represents liquor store owners.
Colorado will become the 35th state to allow Sunday booze sales. State law has banned the practice since Prohibition ended in 1933.
"It's a law that's antiquated," said Rep. Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge, who sponsored the bill to lift the Sunday sales ban.
Grocery and convenience store owners urged Ritter last week to veto the bill, arguing that it would crush their sales of low-strength 3.2 percent alcohol beer. Most sales of "3.2" beer occur on Sundays.
Grocers and convenience store operators charged that Sunday liquor sales would give liquor stores a seven-day "monopoly" over sale of full-strength beer. They have been pushing - without success - to have a bill introduced late in this year's legislative session to allow grocery and convenience stores to sell regular beer.
"It's real simple: Just get rid of 3.2 (beer)," said Sean Duffy, spokesman for a coalition of grocery and convenience store owners.
Lawmakers earlier this year killed a bill that would have allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer and wine.
Passage of the Sunday liquor sales bill occurred after liquor store owners reversed their long-standing opposition to lifting the Sunday ban.
They previously has said that opening Sundays would raise their costs and hamper those store owners who wanted to spend Sunday with their families.
But store owners changed their stance to head off the bill that would have allowed grocery and convenience stores into both the regular beer and wine business.
State budget analysts calculate that Sunday liquor sales will put an added $6 million into state coffers each year in the form of excise and sales tax revenue.
fillionr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2467
Booze bill
* What's new: Gov. Bill Ritter plans to sign legislation Monday to permit liquor stores to open on Sundays.
* Timing: The new law is set to take effect July 1.
* Fact: Colorado will become the 35th state to allow Sunday booze sales.
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Holiday movies
Check out our movie page to read reviews and see your holiday options.
-
Holiday Lights
Is your house the jolliest on the block? Submit your holiday lights display.
-
Mount Crushmore
Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.
-
Broncos-Jets Action
Visit our photo galleries for some hard-hitting action photos from Sunday's game.
-
Bronco Dean's rant
Listen to Bronco Dean's postgame rant on the Jets.
-
Rocky Multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Stein's View
Editorial cartoons by Ed Stein
-
Holiday Gift Guide
Looking to get a jump-start on the holiday shopping season?
-
The Rocky @ 150 Years
Read the Rocky's coverage of Colorado's cannibal, Alfred Packer, in 1886.
April 11, 2008
4:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
gwats writes:
I'm just glad the crush to get to the liquor store before midnight on Saturday will be a thing of the past.
April 11, 2008
6:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
Retread writes:
Tell that to children of alcoholics.
April 11, 2008
7:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
Spencer writes:
Yes, what about the children? LOL
April 11, 2008
7:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
Don't bother mommy sweetums she's busy getting hammered.Wow I was worried that all the college kids might stay sober for one day a week.Whoops I guess I was wrong.
April 11, 2008
7:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
CaptainObvious writes:
Sinners.
April 11, 2008
7:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
Ottis writes:
Now do the same for car dealers.
April 11, 2008
8:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
BMat writes:
Maybe they should close Focus on the Family on Sundays instead
April 11, 2008
8:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
Spencer writes:
Actually this is so that church go'ers can get liquored up before attending services.
April 11, 2008
8:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
DeimosJB writes:
This is a first - I agree with Froward.
April 11, 2008
8:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
rwmorrisonjr writes:
I agree with Sean Duffy: "eliminate 3.2 beer". Let grocers and convenience stores sell full strength beer & wine, and let places like Costco have liquor licenses as well, and you'll see some genuine competition. That's what the market economy is all about.
Now for those car dealers...
April 11, 2008
8:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
POHA writes:
I'm not sure that 7/7 vs 6/7 days a week is going to make a difference on alcoholism...
Real alcoholics just figured out they needed to buy more on Saturday. Duh.
April 11, 2008
8:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
kmeissner writes:
I agree with POHA. Why wouldn't the alcoholics just buy more on Saturday? Even if the bill doesn't pass, bars are still open on Sunday. Plus genuine drinkers can still buy 3.2 beer at the grocery store.
PajamaPulitzer- Newsflash! this isn't Ireland!
April 11, 2008
9:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
OhBrother writes:
Thank you POHA-it makes no diffrence to an alcholic, they just don't need to rage out on sundays if they forgot to stock up on saturdays now. Plus with bars open Sundays anyways, serious boozers were never hindered.
Destroy 3.2 beer, it serves no purpose to mankind!
April 11, 2008
9:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
nuclied writes:
Truth be told, an alcoholic will be ready for a Sunday whether it is being sold or not. All this does it repeal an age old law that servers no purpose whatsoever in the modern age. I do agree with most people's sentiment here, get rid of 3.2 and let grocery stores compete head to head with liquore stores. Now everyone take a deep breath, a step back, and think, is this even a newsworthy story since it has very little impact on the large majority of Coloradans...and I repeat, the majority of Coloradans. While I know some have their terrible stories and troubles, most of us will be very happy with the option of running to the store to buy a bottle of wine on a Sunday!
April 11, 2008
9:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
mt2ri writes:
Liquor store owners run your state. They OK Sunday sales to head off the repeal of the 3.2 law. Law passes govenor signs it - grocery stores get the shaft.
April 11, 2008
9:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
CWW writes:
Yup, mt2ri, you're correct. The liquor store owners have always been against Sunday sales until this other initiative.
A friend said the owner of his local liquor store was upset about being open on Sunday. I reminded my friend that the stores don't HAVE to be open if they don't want. I imagine lots of the liquor stores will stay closed. Those who want to purchase will find an open store.
April 11, 2008
9:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
milbone writes:
Ha! Grocery stores get the shaft? It's too bad they can't sell everything!
April 11, 2008
10:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
Ztliano writes:
Let's all get drunk on Sunday and go to the church pissed!
April 11, 2008
10:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
milleda writes:
RickyLee,
You are missing the point. I doubt anyone is worried about the grocery stores missing a few dollars of sales on 3.2. The fact is that the laws in Colorado support market manipulation. By limiting full strength beer sales to a select group (liquor stores), the law inherently limits free market competition. The only group getting hurt here is the CONSUMER who ends up overpaying for a commodity. Don't believe me? Go to Chicago where you can buy a 12 pack of Budweiser bottles for $7.50. Here, no less than $9.99. Oh, and by the way, this ridiculous agrument that poor little liquor stores will be run out of business is completely false. Liquor stores manage very nicely in Chicago because they offer selection even though they are forced to be price competitive.
April 11, 2008
11 a.m.
Suggest removal
BroncoRick69 writes:
Ha. There are worse things to be than an alcoholic.
April 11, 2008
11:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
skz writes:
So we're worried that the alcholics will now have access to a liquor store? And this instead of going to the bar for a fix? Seems to me that getting boozed up then driving home is a lot worse than driving home then getting boozed up. Am I missing something here?
April 11, 2008
11:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
Golden writes:
Very good law! Next up is auto dealers, then onto the law makers. Let's limit them to only doing business for one-half a day per week; and 10 weeks out of the year. That should keep them from wasting time trying to figure out how to tax us.
April 11, 2008
11:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
xeeian writes:
Next get grocery stores to sell beer and wine, after that the car dealers!
April 11, 2008
12:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
RockLobster writes:
Hmmm, why do so many of you want car dealers to sell liquor? : )
April 11, 2008
12:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
infidel91 writes:
I don't think car dealers should sell beer and wine.
April 11, 2008
1:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
co2ct writes:
Posted by milleda on April 11, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
RickyLee,
You are missing the point. I doubt anyone is worried about the grocery stores missing a few dollars of sales on 3.2. The fact is that the laws in Colorado support market manipulation. By limiting full strength beer sales to a select group (liquor stores), the law inherently limits free market competition. The only group getting hurt here is the CONSUMER who ends up overpaying for a commodity. Don't believe me? Go to Chicago where you can buy a 12 pack of Budweiser bottles for $7.50. Here, no less than $9.99. Oh, and by the way, this ridiculous agrument that poor little liquor stores will be run out of business is completely false. Liquor stores manage very nicely in Chicago because they offer selection even though they are forced to be price competitive.
THANK YOU MILLEDA...I'M A CHICAGOAN, AND WHAT YOU FORGET TO MENTION ARE THE THRIVING PACKAGE STORES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GROCERY STORES. THEY MUST ALL COMPETE AND THE RESULT IS BETTER PRICING AND INCREASED CONVENIENCE FOR THE POPULATION.
April 11, 2008
2:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
MattGuyver_007 writes:
We should all feel refreshed that our legislatures are doing something other than spending our tax dollar$.
Not to mention when it's 10:00 on a Saturday night and the following day is New Years, 4th of July, Super Bowl or some other event where adult beverages are generally enjoyed and you can't procure because of an outdated 'Blue Law'.
April 11, 2008
2:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
Wow now everyone can spend the morning at church.Then after all the repenting you can now get drunker then a Dublin working girl.But I am glad to see it end where I live now.So to all those people who are controlling our lives.I think your losing the battle.Because whats wrong with someone having a beer.I bet the coors people will be glad to improve their profit margins.So to all the drinkers(here's to those who wish you well,All the rest can go to h@ll).By the way when I do go out I always stay in a hotel near where I go out.
April 11, 2008
2:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
Grim_Reefer writes:
NotChasB:
You usually are wrong, so no worries there.
April 11, 2008
2:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
Spencer writes:
beat me to the punch Grim Reefer. Notchas(Archie Bunker) is always wrong.
April 11, 2008
3:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
NotChasB
I think you are looking at this in the half glass empty mode. I lived in Colorado Springs for over 25 years and I can tell you for a fact, it sucked having to find some G.I. friends to buy it for us on base. Football season sucked because many times we would forget to make that run. I live in Las Vegas now (the past 11 years), and we have no such thing as 3.2 beer. Liquor stores are open 7 days a week and you can also buy packaged liquor from bars. We have many, many local taverns open 24/7 and do Karaoke till the sun comes up. As adults, we have the right to choose when we go home, when we quit drinking, etc.. Colorado is still waaaay behind in the times and need to catch up with the 21st century. I think, from what I've read, so do you. By the way. I work for a living, I don't miss work, (I'm on break now), I drink about every other weekend, go to my local taverns and have no DUI's. If I get sloshed, then I call a cab. But Colorado needs to catch up with the times and I feel this is a start.
April 11, 2008
4:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
Retread writes:
My wife as a child used to wait for Sunday, it was the only day agreed to by her father that he would not drink. He would wake her up on odd nights, beat the hell out of her, just because he could, and he was drunk.
You can sit there with your booze in your hand and say Colorado is behind the times, or the law is outdated, or maybe we should have traveling booze wagons, like ice cream trucks, going up and down our streets 24/7 365? Then we have people saying theres worse things than being a alcoholic???Are you kidding me? I personally have seen whole lives ruined by booze, seen people lose familys, homes, money, self respect, and finally their live!
Alcohol is a legal drug, nothing less..
April 11, 2008
4:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Agreed Fresh. We are adults and because there are bad apples in the basket, doesn't mean that it should ruin everyone else's day. Sorry that the guys, wife's, dad, beat her. He was an idiot. But I would never move from Las Vegas. I love the freedoms that we enjoy. I enjoy walking down the Strip with drink in hand and enjoy the day. Never had a problem and the tourists love it. If Colorado would get with the times then maybe there would be a little less stress. I am glad to hear Colorado made the 1st step. I'm soooo glad I never have to hear "last call for alcohol". I drink on a Saturday night or Sunday for football at my Bronco bar. I teach Martial Arts and I have no drinking problem or get "falling down drunk". Vegas just enjoys the freedoms that we, as Americans, should have always been able to have.
April 11, 2008
4:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
broncosvw writes:
two dui's... I feel im qualified to discuss this issue. I cant wait to buy liq on Sundays!
April 11, 2008
7:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
snowbelly writes:
Wade in the water, stay drunk all the time.
April 11, 2008
7:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
snowbelly writes:
Yeah, but where is the free booze.Somewhere about 6th and lincoln, I figure.
April 11, 2008
8:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
snowbelly writes:
They got the good scotch up in there.
April 11, 2008
9:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
jmfslots writes:
Next let's allow grocery stores to sell hard liquor, wine and full strength beer as well. Politicians are giving a monopoly to liquor stores. Consumers pay a premium and competition would clear that up. Open free competition, do not support a monopoly. Give the consumer a break. No jobs will be lost and convenience will be served.
April 12, 2008
8:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
Retread writes:
Good deal, put a higher tax on the booze sold to fund the rehab centers in Colorado...
April 12, 2008
9:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
sam80241 writes:
I am a local business owner who is concerned with the ballot that might allow grocery stores to sell wine and beer. In a time where stock markets are crashing and our economy is in a full-blown recession, I cannot understand why the voters would want to pass a law condemning thousands of Colorado workers to the unemployment line.
In my store, 70% of my sales are derived from beer and wine. With grocery stores being able to sell liquor, I would surely have to close down my store and put 10 people out of work. I think that if grocery stores are truly looking to “convenience” the customers then they should look into leasing retail space inside their store towards outside business owners. This would actually provide an increase in jobs and revenue into the state, rather than forcing more people out of work.
This law would allow a monopoly to be created by the grocery stores which would allow them to sell at a lower cost because of their increased orders. Local liquor stores would be forced to raise prices on all other spirits to compensate sales loss; this would only increase state economic problems. This law might also act as incentive for gas stations which would then claim sales losses from King Soopers and the liquor stores, thus causing them to fight for the right to sell spirits inside convenience stores. This would only create a bigger struggle for liquor store owners, keeping up with such heavy-hitters like King Soopers, Safeway, Wal Mart, and Conoco.
My biggest concern, however, is as a father of two young children. If grocery stores were able to sell liquor, then this would violate the 1,000 yard ordinance that is placed upon liquor sales and schools. My son’s school is not even one mile away from King Soopers, which is a local hang out for children after school. If children were to be exposed to an environment that was not as highly regulated as a liquor store (where we do not allow minors to be present alone in the store) then easier liquor access will be possible. The regulation of minor consumption will be harder to control, especially when dealing with those who purchase alcohol for minors. It would be harder to disprove that a customer was “just shopping” and decided to buy liquor than to prove they had intentionally entered a liquor establishment to procure illegal substances. If parents knew that access to liquor for minors would become easier under this law, then I am sure they would not agree to pass it.
April 12, 2008
10:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Sorry sam80241, but that arguement doesn't hold water. I live in Las Vegas. Liquor stores and grocery stores co-exist just fine. Admit it, you as a liquor store owner, charged higher prices because you had a lock on the market. Now that somebody else wants a piece of the pie, you're screaming "foul". Greed does that. Liquor stores also will still have the ability to sell imports and other "hard to find" alcoholic beverages that grocery stores don't carry, so quit crying and get over it. It's done. You sound just like AT&T did, when MCI came out. Didn't want to share your toys with others.
April 12, 2008
11:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
Brain writes:
Liquor will be allowed to be sold in grocery stores within the next 5 years and in return the liquor store will sell food products.
Don't open a liquor store because you will be put out of business within 5 years.
I like auto dealers being closed on Sundays so I can go see models available and prices without having a salesperson hovering.
April 12, 2008
11:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
Brain writes:
Dynamicdave; do you know how long Nevada has had their current liquor laws?
April 12, 2008
11:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
BirdonaWire writes:
I agree, I don't want to hear anymore whining from the liquor store lobby. You pukes have had free run on our state for decades. If you couldn't see the writing on the wall, bummer for you. These idiots lobbied there arses off to deny Sunday sales for a long time becuase they could sell the same amount of merchandise in 6 days and save labor costs. Now they want us to think they support "greater consumer convenience." Yeah, piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.
Oh yeah, NotChasB, you're an idiot.
April 12, 2008
12:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Brain, I couldn't give you a specific date, no. I have lived here 11 years and these rules, laws and guidelines were always in place. I do know that the liquor stores can sell better quality beers, wines, and hard alcohols, more then a grocery store, however. But, much of what a store carries, depends on what the store is willing to pay the venders, to have. For instance, "Boulder Extra Pale or Amber Ale", used to be sold at a local liquor store but the vender was charging too much for it so it was discontinued. Grocery stores buy in bulk so it would be way too costly to buy it, especially if it doesn't sell. Because of the Casino Gaming laws, there are many rules in place but we still have more freedoms then any other city in the U.S.. I would not live anywhere else. Bars, that offer take out, 24/7. Karaoke, drinking and gambling, till the sun comes up, if you wish. Some of the best concerts in the U.S. are here and drinking is ok to do at your seat. Colorado doesn't offer most of these things. Did you know they still have a law from the 1800's still in the books that you can be hung for stealing horses? Time to get with it Colorado.
April 13, 2008
8:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
BuffsIn2008 writes:
Hey, Chorizo! Wazzup!
April 14, 2008
10:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
sam80241 writes:
its the problem with the consumer that want it now , It about me me me. No wonder the economy is going to south. because all we care is to save 25 cent at walmart. enjoy your china take over and hope your dog does not die while he is eating his food. GO BIG BUSINESS F... Small business that keep the money in colorado and hire from colorado.
April 14, 2008
12:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
MrBrightSide writes:
If your so concerned about the extra day to drink, why not ask your representative to pass a law that closes the stores on....Tuesday? Nobody buys booze on Tuesday!!! Then we would ALL be happy, right?
No extra day of doing business for the 'small guy', six days of buying booze for all of you who don't understand that the people that really feel the need to binge do stock up, and that those of us who want to be able to purchase beer, wine or spirits on Sunday can do so without being frustrated with antiquated laws put in place to legislate our behavior.