Sunday booze sales pass Senate, move on to House

By Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 26, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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The Colorado Senate gave the final thumbs up Monday to a bill that would allow liquor stores to open Sundays, a big step toward scrapping the decades-old ban on Sunday booze sales.

The measure now goes to the House, where it's expected to face tougher resistance. The bill, SB 82, cleared the Senate in a 23-8 vote.

Currently, 34 states permit Sunday liquor sales.

The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee is expected to take up the Sunday liquor bill as early as next week. If passed there, it would go to the Finance Committee.

"At the end of the day I think we'll be able to get it out of there," said Rep. Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge.

But Jahn, a sponsor of the bill, predicted "very, very tight votes" in both committees, citing some lawmakers who oppose the concept of Sunday liquor sales.

"Once I get it to the full floor, I think we'll have a little more support," Jahn said.

Just three years ago a similar bill died in the face of fierce opposition from liquor store owners.

But the owners have since reversed their position as a way to block a separate bill that would have allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer and wine. A Senate panel killed that measure earlier this month.

Grocers are expected to try to amend the Sunday sales bill to permit them to sell full-strength beer.

Currently, they can sell only beer containing 3.2 percent alcohol. Grocers predict those sales would plummet if liquor stores could open on Sunday, when most "3.2 beer" is sold.

"We're going to have to get busy to try and level the playing field," said Sean Duffy, spokesman for the Rocky Mountain Food Industry Association.

Gov. Bill Ritter hasn't staked out a public position on Sunday sales. He told the Mike Rosen Show earlier this month that liquor store owners "understand" that the current law banning Sunday sales "probably is a law that's outlived its existence."

Evan Dreyer, a spokesman for the governor, said: "We are watching the bill as it proceeds through the legislative process. If it gets to the governor's desk we will meet with both sides before deciding whether to sign it."

fillionr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2467

• February 25, 2008

  3:48 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  kmeissner writes:

  WOOHOO!!!! Now I can get beer on the day of the Broncos games. I always forgot to stockpile last year!

• February 25, 2008

  5:40 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  BirdonaWire writes:

  Will the House block this?

• February 25, 2008

  6:35 p.m.

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  politwriter writes:

  FDR did away with prohibition in 1933. Apparently the news is just now filtering out to Colorado.

• February 25, 2008

  6:49 p.m.

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  acm writes:

  Yay for protectionism! If this passes, next thing you know they'll let businesses sell cars on Sundays. CARS!!! Can you imagine?

• February 25, 2008

  10:50 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  milleda writes:

  LET GROCERS SELL BEER!!

  We pay 40% more for a 12 pack of Budweiser in Colorado then I used to in Chicago! $3.00 difference on 12 bottles because the only place you can buy beer is at a liquor store. No competition equals higher prices for the consumer. I could care less about Sunday sales (although I don't understand why the law exists). I would much rather have competition instead of the price collusion that exists today.

• February 26, 2008

  4:32 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  politwriter writes:

  Milleda -- your info is probably a little dated. The liberal Democrats in Chicago and Cook County have gotten their claws into beer sales and are now taxing beer and liquor wildly so that that price advantage is probably not so great anymore.

• February 26, 2008

  12:16 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  milleda writes:

  politwriter - My job allows me to travel to Chicago frequently and stay with friends and family. Just three weeks ago, in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, $7.50 for 12 bottles of Budweiser (it is the same situation for all manufacturers). I can find that price at the local gas station (similar to the Jenny Markets we have here) and buy 7 days a week. The best I can find anywhere in the south suburbs of Denver - $10.50. Same stuff, different price. I also don't buy the argument that allowing grocers to sell beer would put liquor stores out of business. Liquor stores seem to be thriving in Chicago, even with the competition.

• February 26, 2008

  3:33 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  milledia, I think it's $1.99 for a 12 pack of PBR. And you would look cool drinking it because it is a trendy beer.

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