Why are Alcohol sales in grocery stores on Sunday a big deal?

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  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    I grew up in Pennsylvania, which could have the most screwed up liquor laws. To buy a six or twelve back, you have to go to a bar or six pack shop... to by a case or keg, you have to go to a beer distributor and if you want to but wine or liquor you have to go to a state run liquor store.

    They made changes a few years back that some select liquor stores or beer distributors could be open on limted hours on sunday, but that was a hell of a fight.

    Sure, the religious "blue law" people are a problem, but unions and bar associates are the big force that fights it... Bar owners fought long and hard against beer/liquor sales on sunday because it would hurt business. The state run liquor stores, their employee union, bar owners and beer distributors all fight against any effort to sell beer and wine in grocery stores.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
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    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    I grew up in Pennsylvania, which could have the most screwed up liquor laws. To buy a six or twelve back, you have to go to a bar or six pack shop... to by a case or keg, you have to go to a beer distributor and if you want to but wine or liquor you have to go to a state run liquor store.

    They made changes a few years back that some select liquor stores or beer distributors could be open on limted hours on sunday, but that was a hell of a fight.

    Sure, the religious "blue law" people are a problem, but unions and bar associates are the big force that fights it... Bar owners fought long and hard against beer/liquor sales on sunday because it would hurt business. The state run liquor stores, their employee union, bar owners and beer distributors all fight against any effort to sell beer and wine in grocery stores.


    the ridiculous wasteful mobs that are unions in this country are simply another blow to individuality and freedom. China and Taiwan are far more relavant places for them to exist, they cause more problems than good here in the US.

    This kind of thing should be mind numbingly simple, unfortunately everyone is worried about how they can use the government to benefit thier particular end of things, rather than building a better business model.

    If it weren't like that, hell Western Africa might be a nice place to live, because they could sell cotton.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • Pacomc79 wrote:
    Uh, lets see, you can buy it the other 6 days of the week and the actual Sabbath is Saturday if that's your deal. Not to mention you can already purchase alcohol in restaurants. Oh I forgot that yes your right to not purchase alcohol on Sunday or any other day has been upheld since the beggining of this government.

    The whole root of this law is in forcing people to comply with the ideals of a small group of religious zealots. There is absolutely no reason for it's existance.

    http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/legis07/stories/2007/03/27/0327metlegbooze.html

    why don't they want it to come up to a vote? Because they know it would freaking pass easily.

    Pac...might have to hit you up next time I head to ATL. Was down there for New Year's to Widespread Panic. Will be there again next NYE. I try to get down there for shows when I can....We don't know each other that well but hell you have given me enough advice on here, least I can do is by you a Sweetwater 420!
    Driving in my car, smoking a cigar. The only time I'm happy is when I play my guitar.

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  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    Pac...might have to hit you up next time I head to ATL. Was down there for New Year's to Widespread Panic. Will be there again next NYE. I try to get down there for shows when I can....We don't know each other that well but hell you have given me enough advice on here, least I can do is by you a Sweetwater 420!


    absolutely, just let me know, I heard WP was excellent this year.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • Pacomc79 wrote:
    absolutely, just let me know, I heard WP was excellent this year.

    Excellent is right. With new guitarist Jimmy Herring, the are back in form, just like the days with Mikey (RIP). They hung a banner for them at Phillips Arena for selling out 15 straight New Year's shows at the arena. It was pretty sweet.
    Driving in my car, smoking a cigar. The only time I'm happy is when I play my guitar.

    -from "n.s.u." by Cream
  • Flannel ShirtFlannel Shirt Posts: 1,021
    Its the fucking Pilgrims fault.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_law
    All that's sacred, comes from youth....dedications, naive and true.
  • I know a liquor store owner in Mass. Forever, it was no liquor sales allowed on Sundays. They changed the law many years ago, that if a liquor store was within 10 miles of the NH border, they could open on Sundays. This way, Mass stores near NH could compete better. So the rest of Mass later came up to speed thinking they were losing out too (stores greater than 10 miles). But many store owners didn't want the law to change - they knew over the long haul, this does not increase business on an overall basis. Sure, you may increase total sales slightly, but the additional overhead into keeping the store open 7 days instead of 6 outweighs the additional profits. Additional costs include paying workers, utilities, book keeping etc. Also, Sunday was a good day to take care of things when the store was closed, like cleaning, stocking, etc. Now that stuff has to be done late night or during regular hours.
    "This guy back here is giving me the ole one more....one more back to you buddy."

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  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    I know a liquor store owner in Mass. Forever, it was no liquor sales allowed on Sundays. They changed the law many years ago, that if a liquor store was within 10 miles of the NH border, they could open on Sundays. This way, Mass stores near NH could compete better. So the rest of Mass later came up to speed thinking they were losing out too (stores greater than 10 miles). But many store owners didn't want the law to change - they knew over the long haul, this does not increase business on an overall basis. Sure, you may increase total sales slightly, but the additional overhead into keeping the store open 7 days instead of 6 outweighs the additional profits. Additional costs include paying workers, utilities, book keeping etc. Also, Sunday was a good day to take care of things when the store was closed, like cleaning, stocking, etc. Now that stuff has to be done late night or during regular hours.
    They don't HAVE to be open, do they? If it doesn't increase their profits, why would they open the store?

    In Ohio, you have to pay for an additional license to sell on Sunday. I don't know why anyone would do that if they didn't think it was going to help their business.
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    hippiemom wrote:
    They don't HAVE to be open, do they? If it doesn't increase their profits, why would they open the store?

    If everyone else opens Sunday, though, I suspect each would have to in order to keep up. In other words, if the law keeps us all down, most of the lost Sunday sales come on Saturday or Monday. But if I close my store on Sunday, my lost Sunday sales go to other stores.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • gabersgabers Posts: 2,787
    To quote a line from When Harry Met Sally.

    "Because of God".
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    Uncle Leo wrote:
    If everyone else opens Sunday, though, I suspect each would have to in order to keep up. In other words, if the law keeps us all down, most of the lost Sunday sales come on Saturday or Monday. But if I close my store on Sunday, my lost Sunday sales go to other stores.

    Chick Fil A has never been open on sunday while everyone else is, I don't think they've ever had an issue. Even though I'd love to sometimes enjoy a succulent chicken biscuit on Sunday, I respect Truett Cathy's position. I can always go down to the Jewish bakery for a bagel anyhow. It'd be nice if I could walk by Publix and go get a 6 pack of Rye Ale to enjoy while I cut the grass in the afternoon.

    If they want to not be open or they want to open for 3 hours or what not fine, but the choice should be thiers not the governments.

    Grocery stores are open the product is there, ready for sale...but because of the name of the day on the calandar....they can't sell it? If public health were a good reason....what about the other 6 days?

    If you can't control yourself on Sunday, you can't control yourself on Monday either. Why do we ban sales on one of the two common days of the week most people are able to relax, go to the store, and or sit at home and enjoy a Beer?

    It's absolutely insane.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • NMyTreeNMyTree Posts: 2,374
    Apparently "God" disaproves of us buying alcohol on "his day".

    Well, at least that's what some ordinary human being said ...roughly three thousand years ago. So it must be true.

    If you want to drink on Sunday, buy on Saturday.

    Apprently "God" didn't have a problem with buying on Saturday, with the intent to drink on Sunday. It's all good.
  • dumb law.....never understood it. At least you don't have "dry" counties like they do in Texas, that sucks when you happen to be in one of those counties.
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  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    dumb law.....never understood it. At least you don't have "dry" counties like they do in Texas, that sucks when you happen to be in one of those counties.

    I went to school in a "dry town" in PA... there were no bars, but there was a liqour store and a beer distributor. It actually saved us poor college kids money, because you didn't have to pay bar prices to get drunk.. all you did was bought a cup at the door for a couple bucks and you were good to go.

    Probably about 5 years ago, the bar ban was lifted... the family that owned the beer distributor was one of the strongest fighters to keep the ban... shocker, there was a non-stop line a that place from about lunchtime on thursday through closing on saturday. They might as well have just been printing money.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • Ever tried to order hard liquer in S. Carolina? They give it to you out of these tiny little travel bottles... they can't have full size alcohol bottles at the bars!

    Make your life a mission - not an intermission. - Arnold Gasglow
  • FlaggFlagg Posts: 5,856
    tybird wrote:
    and I thought Alabama had some bad laws.

    I was going to say the same thing about Texas!

    When I was up there for the Philly show last year, I was shocked to find out you couldn't buy beer in the stores.
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  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    Brink wrote:
    Ever tried to order hard liquer in S. Carolina? They give it to you out of these tiny little travel bottles... they can't have full size alcohol bottles at the bars!

    yeah, that is weird too.. not much incentive to tip the bartender for stronger drinks.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    Chick Fil A has never been open on sunday while everyone else is, I don't think they've ever had an issue. Even though I'd love to sometimes enjoy a succulent chicken biscuit on Sunday, I respect Truett Cathy's position. I can always go down to the Jewish bakery for a bagel anyhow. It'd be nice if I could walk by Publix and go get a 6 pack of Rye Ale to enjoy while I cut the grass in the afternoon.

    If they want to not be open or they want to open for 3 hours or what not fine, but the choice should be thiers not the governments.

    Grocery stores are open the product is there, ready for sale...but because of the name of the day on the calandar....they can't sell it? If public health were a good reason....what about the other 6 days?

    If you can't control yourself on Sunday, you can't control yourself on Monday either. Why do we ban sales on one of the two common days of the week most people are able to relax, go to the store, and or sit at home and enjoy a Beer?

    It's absolutely insane.

    I agree. I was just responding to the conversation about how some stores (accidentialy) may have benefited from the rule.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    Uncle Leo wrote:
    I agree. I was just responding to the conversation about how some stores (accidentialy) may have benefited from the rule.

    oh yeah I understood, I was just commenting further.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    Uncle Leo wrote:
    If everyone else opens Sunday, though, I suspect each would have to in order to keep up. In other words, if the law keeps us all down, most of the lost Sunday sales come on Saturday or Monday. But if I close my store on Sunday, my lost Sunday sales go to other stores.
    So then it would be profitable for you to open on Sundays

    You're saying that it's not profitable to open but that if other places open, they're taking your business? Well open then! :p
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  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    So... are there no pubs in dry counties either? :o
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    So... are there no pubs in dry counties either? :o


    dry counties are just that.....dry. At least publically.

    There are always loopholes. Like being underage again, evading the law is half the fun.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    Anybody remember the olden days when the legal drinking age varied from state to state? 19 was the legal age when I grew up here in Alabama. I believe then that in some states, North Carolina?, you could buy beer or wine at 18 but had to wait until 21 for hard liquor? Thanks to the feds the de facto legal age for booze is 21 across the board.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    dry counties are just that.....dry. At least publically.

    There are always loopholes. Like being underage again, evading the law is half the fun.
    well that IS true... drinking hasn't been as much fun since I turned 18 :o we call it knacker drinking... ya know in a forest, in a field, under a bridge, etc :D so yep, maybe I'd actually ENJOY a dry state :eek: although I wouldn't wanna mess with them southern cops :eek:
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • No problem here, drinking age is "18" and you can get beer or liquor 24 hours a day if there is a 7 eleven or a gas station nearby. 365 day a a year except on election day which i find it to be ridiculous.

    Now being raised with these drinking laws I was totally in shock when I went to school in Philly and saw their idiotic alcohol laws. I had my mom send me rum and beer thru the mail.
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    No problem here, drinking age is "18" and you can get beer or liquor 24 hours a day if there is a 7 eleven or a gas station nearby. 365 day a a year except on election day which i find it to be ridiculous.

    Now being raised with these drinking laws I was totally in shock when I went to school in Philly and saw their idiotic alcohol laws. I had my mom send me rum and beer thru the mail.
    :eek: Through the mail? :D lol.

    24 hours a day though, every day apart from election day??? :eek: I'm on my way. Is there room for one more? :)
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    No problem here, drinking age is "18" and you can get beer or liquor 24 hours a day if there is a 7 eleven or a gas station nearby. 365 day a a year except on election day which i find it to be ridiculous.

    Now being raised with these drinking laws I was totally in shock when I went to school in Philly and saw their idiotic alcohol laws. I had my mom send me rum and beer thru the mail.
    It's against the law in Alabama to receive alcohol through the mail or any other delivery service. All wholesale business goes through the state. Having it shipped from out of state directly to you is still considered "bootlegging." :rolleyes:
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    No problem here, drinking age is "18" and you can get beer or liquor 24 hours a day if there is a 7 eleven or a gas station nearby. 365 day a a year except on election day which i find it to be ridiculous.

    Now being raised with these drinking laws I was totally in shock when I went to school in Philly and saw their idiotic alcohol laws. I had my mom send me rum and beer thru the mail.
    Puerto Rico must not have gotten any federal money from the Clinton era Highway bill.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • tybird wrote:
    It's against the law in Alabama to receive alcohol through the mail or any other delivery service. All wholesale business goes through the state. Having it shipped from out of state directly to you is still considered "bootlegging." :rolleyes:

    then i guess my mom is a bootlegger then;) It was college man.
  • tybird wrote:
    Puerto Rico must not have gotten any federal money from the Clinton era Highway bill.


    We probably did. Puerto Rico is a black hole of federal laws.
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