Soaking up Sunday sales
By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 6, 2008 at 3:10 p.m.
Photo by Darin McGregor © The Rocky
Peter Kang, manager of Friends Liquors, sells a beer to Juan Luis Inglesias on Colorado's first day of Sunday liquor sales in Aurora on Sunday. State budget analysts say added sales will pump $6 million more tax dollars into Colorado's coffers.
A steady stream of customers took advantage of the first Sunday liquor store sales in Colorado, saying the new law will make it more convenient for them to entertain and to enjoy their weekends.
At Applejack Wine & Spirits in Wheat Ridge, the first sale after the 10 a.m. opening went to a man who bought 12 bottles of rye whiskey and six bottles of Seagrams 7 whiskey for just over $300.
The rest of the morning, cashiers remained busy, ringing up anything from a single bottle of chardonnay to 10 cases of beer.
The cramped parking lot at Argonaut Wine & Liquor in Capitol Hill rarely had open spaces throughout the day.
Business at small liquor stores in the metro area was less brisk, with some parking lots nearly empty.
Colorado became the 35th state to allow Sunday liquor store sales with a law that ended a 75-year ban.
State budget analysts calculate that Sunday liquor sales will pump an added $6 million into Colorado's coffers each year in the form of excise and sales tax revenue.
Here are some views on the new law and its impacts:
George Robinson
Customer at Liquor Mart, Boulder
Age: 22
Occupation: On-and-off student and driver
City: Boulder
What do you think of Sunday liquor sales? It's pretty awesome.
How many times have you run out of liquor on Sunday? Probably 100 times in four years.
What's on your shopping list? All the things for Bloody Marys to kind of celebrate.
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, how much will Sunday liquor sales change your life? I'd say give it an 8. I used to work for a liquor store, so I'm happy that I don't do that - we always got Sunday off.
What would God say about buying liquor on Sunday? I grew up Catholic. We always had wine on Sunday. Buying liquor isn't always the best thing on Sunday.
Karen Spaid
Customer at Applejack Wine & Spirits, Wheat Ridge
Age: 29
Occupation: Financial planner
City: Edwards
What do you think of Sunday liquor sales? I think it's great. It's just so much more convenient.
How many times have you run out of liquor on Sunday? At least once a month.
What's on your shopping list? Gin, wine and vodka.
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, how much will Sunday liquor sales change your life? 5. It just makes it more convenient. Now, I won't worry so much about having to plan in advance.
What would God say about buying liquor on Sunday? I'm not religious. Honestly, if you're a good person, it shouldn't matter if you have liquor on Sundays or not.
Bob Thresher
Customer at Applejack
Age: 67
Occupation: Mechanical engineer
City: Golden
What do you think of Sunday liquor sales? I'm short on time. Having it open on Sundays is an added convenience.
How many times have you run out of liquor on Sunday? Never. I don't drink that much.
What's on your shopping list? White wine
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, how much will Sunday liquor sales change your life? 2. It's not a big deal.
What would God say about buying liquor on Sunday? I don't think he would care since they serve it during communion, as long as you don't abuse it. That he might object to.
David Mrakitsch
Customer at Singer's Liquor, north Denver
Age: 36
Occupation: Social worker
City: Denver
What do you think of Sunday liquor sales? I think it's great. I came from Illinois, and I was always used to it. They had Sunday liquor sales and beer and wine in grocery stores.
How many times have you run out of liquor on Sunday? Once a month.
What's on your shopping list? Case of Miller Lite
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, how much will Sunday liquor sales change your life? 1. No effect.
What would God say about buying liquor on Sunday?
Ben Franklin said, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
Vernon Roles
Customer at Argonaut Wine & Liquor, Denver
Age: 62
Occupation: Cook
City: Denver
What do you think of Sunday liquor sales? I like it. Yesterday was a really horrendous day at work. I didn't get a chance to go to the liquor store after I got off work. This morning, I remembered that I could go and do it.
How many times have you run out of liquor on Sunday? It happens quite a bit, like on football Sundays.
What's on your shopping list? 6-pack of Budweiser and quart of malt liquor
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, how much will Sunday liquor sales change your life? 8 or 9. Heck yeah. It's more convenient for me. If somebody comes over, I'll have some beer.
What would God say about buying liquor on Sunday? No comment.
Kenny Jackson
Customer at Argonaut
Age: 25
Occupation: Car salesman
City: Denver
What do you think of Sunday liquor sales? I think it's a good thing because it's a business like anything else. One more day that they're open, I think that would actually increase their sales.
What's on your shopping list? 6-pack of Avery Amber Ale
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, how much will Sunday liquor sales change your life? 3. Sometimes on Saturday, I have to work late. It's nice not to have to rush out to the liquor store on Saturday nights. I can go out at my leisure on Sundays.
What would God say about buying liquor on Sunday? I think times have changed. It used to be that nothing was opened on Sundays. Now almost everything is open. It's no worse to buy alcohol on a Sunday than it is on any other day of the week.
Steve Valdez
Manager at Applejack
Age: 55
What do you think of Sunday liquor sales? It's great. It's a win-win situation. The state wins, and the customers win.
If you weren't working today, what would you be doing? Yard work.
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, how much will Sunday liquor sales affect your business? It's too early to tell.
Have you hired more workers or are you relying on existing staff? We hired a few extra workers and are using existing staff.
What are people buying? People are buying what they normally do: wine, beer and spirits.
Kevin Lim
Owner Singer's Liquor Store, north Denver
Age: 56
What do you think of Sunday liquor sales? For sales, it's no good. There's not much effect on business, and it's not good for the church and family side of my life.
If you weren't working today, what would you be doing? Going to church and having family get-togethers.
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, how much will Sunday liquor sales affect your business? 2. I don't think there will be much of an effect. They did this in Kansas City, and sales were the same after about two months.
Have you hired more workers or are you relying on existing staff? Using existing staff, including family members.
What are people buying? The same thing: wine, liquor and beer.
Sang Sou
Owner Fan Fair Liquors, Aurora
Age: 56
What do you think of Sunday liquor sales? I'm not really happy about it, but you have to accept it. The customers are happy, and it's good for society. I believe it will create jobs.
If you weren't working today, what would you be doing? I'd probably be on the golf course.
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, how much will Sunday liquor sales affect your business? 5. There will be some gain.
Have you hired more workers or are you relying on existing staff? Using existing staff, but if business increases, I will hire more people.
What are people buying? Beer and liquor.
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
-
Rocky Multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Holiday Lights
Is your house the jolliest on the block? Submit your holiday lights display.
-
Holiday Gift Guide
Looking to get a jump-start on the holiday shopping season?
-
Mount Crushmore
Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.
-
Bronco Dean's rant
Listen to Bronco Dean's midweek rant on the Chiefs.
-
Broncos Video
Get the latest from Dove Valley as the Broncos prepare for Sunday's matchup.
-
Calendar wallpaper
Download this month's desktop wallpaper calendar
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Stirrin' the Soup with Matt Iseman
-
The Rocky @ 150 Years
Read the Rocky's coverage of Colorado's cannibal, Alfred Packer, in 1886.
July 6, 2008
3:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
MRSTTYLER writes:
GO COLORADO GO
DRINK UP WE HAVE JOINED ALL OTHER STATES.
July 6, 2008
4:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
portal_pyramids writes:
Finally this non-sensical Christian ridiculousness has passed.
July 6, 2008
5:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Thetrainer090 writes:
It's about time
July 6, 2008
6:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
Chadley25 writes:
I agree. It was a blue law whose repeal was LONG since overdue... I got a couple of nice bottles of wine today on a whim -- good to be able to buy my wine 7 days a week now. Hooray!!
July 6, 2008
6:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
rwmorrisonjr writes:
Let's all toast to the end of Prohibition in CO! Now for eliminating 3.2 beer, allowing grocery stores, Costco and other chains to obtain liquor licenses, and allowing car sales on Sundays! Maybe next year we can finally join the late 20th century on these.
July 6, 2008
7:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
awhite411 writes:
Im Glad you Hillbillys are free from Prohibition! Buts its sad you over sensitive boxy state Coloradans are so sensitive! I had to move back to the east coast when I got flipped off for pasing a moving truck in a residential neighborhood! Good luck in the slow life!
Go Broncos!
Thats my team!
July 6, 2008
7:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
alwaysright writes:
I'll bet church attendence is down because the winoes don't have to go just to get thier daily hit.
July 6, 2008
7:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
timeandagain writes:
awhile411:
glad to have you gone!! please stay away!!
July 7, 2008
7:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
cs writes:
The law is stupid. What is so hard about stocking your fix on a Saturday? Do people really need Sunday when they have 6 other days to buy? Remember when Sunday was a day of rest and NOTHING was open? Wasn't so bad.
July 7, 2008
8:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
DougH writes:
Let's hear it for WINO LIBERATION DAY,now you can stay drunk 24/7
July 7, 2008
8:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
jibbons writes:
Bought champagne to celebrate