Why are liquor stores closed on Sundays? (In many states)?!
Answers: In many states (well, I know at least in Colorado), liquor stores are forced to stay closed on Sundays according to the law. And places that do sell alcohol (like the grocery store) cannot sell it to you on Sundays. Why is this? I know it's rooted in religion, but how on Earth does this law protect anyone? I can see stopping the sale of liquor at a certain time and forcing bars to close at a certain time protecting people... but what makes Sunday so special? Thanks!
Try Walmart for beer I think them and some grocery stores will sell it
Blue Laws
by David J. Hanson, Ph.D.
A blue law is one restricting activities or sales of goods on Sunday, to accommodate the Christian sabbath. The first blue law in the American colonies was enacted in Virginia in 1617. It required church attendance and authorized the militia to force colonists to attend church services.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence to support the assertion that the blue laws were originally printed on blue paper. Instead, the word blue was commonly used in the eighteenth century as a disparaging reference to rigid moral codes and those who observed them (e.g., "bluenoses").
Other early blue laws prohibited work, travel, recreation, and activities such as cooking, shaving, cutting hair, wearing either lace or precious metals, sweeping, making beds, kissing, and engaging in sexual intercourse. The Puritans believed that a child was born on the same day of the week on which it was conceived. Therefore, the parents of children born on a Sunday were punished for violating the blue law nine months earlier.
Blue laws have operated to protect Christian business owners from competition on their sabbath. However, they don’t protect those (such as Jews and Muslims) whose sabbath is Saturday from competition on their sabbath. Thus blue laws have established a double standard in favor of Christians.
Although blue laws requiring Sunday church attendance disappeared in the nineteenth century because they violated citizen’ rights to religious freedoms, other blue laws have continued to exist into the modern era. In Texas, for example, blue laws prohibited selling house wares such as pots, pans, and washing machines on Sunday until 1985, and car dealerships in the state continue to operate under blue-law prohibitions. Many states still prohibit selling alcohol on Sunday, although it’s now the second busiest shopping day of the week.
In 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Lord's Day Act of 1906 was an unconstitutional violation of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms It found that there was no true secular basis for the legislation and its only purpose was, in effect, to establish a state religious-based requirement, and was therefore invalid.
Similarly, courts in New York and Connecticut have ruled that, because blue laws were created and propagated by religious groups for religious purposes, they are unconstitutional.
i heard its to prevent drunk driving on 'the Lords day'
Basically, it is part of what used to be known as the Blue Laws. My state (MN) as well as yours still does not allow sales of liquor at outlets or most bars to be open. Among other things, churchgoers are less likely to be struck by a drunken driver on Sunday morning. So, plan ahead if you so desperately need the alcohol and stay off the roads.
To give bootlegger's a chance to make some cash?
Sunday is still considered "god's day" and a "family day".. although alot of us still work on Sundays, it used to be that NOTHING was open..
It was a day for families to go to church together, enjoy a big family meal and just be together. Its out of respect for those days that liquor stores aren't open.
That seems to slowly be fading away though... I know Mass has abolished it.
because in some states sunday is a day of rest and bibical ties and therefore they wont sell alcohol on sundays . I know in my sisters state of alabama they will not sell it on sundays either you know . I hope I helped . good luck and god bless.
because we need to be in church? i give up.. why?
back in the day ( in Califorinia) not so.. however here in the south. yes sir... i'm guessing the bible belt don't take to kindly to drinkin and what-not, on the LORDS day
I believe it goes back to archaic laws based on the idea that the sabbath (sunday) should be kept holy so you should not work, gamble, or drink alcohol on sundays. Now that excludes communion wine, of course, but I have noticed that many states (especially those with a strong conservative or Christian influence) have kept these laws on the books. "The Church" in the United States has been trying to control alcohol consumption for generations and was a huge supporter of prohibition. The Congregational Churches of the US all started serving grape juice instead of wine during communion in support of the law. People used to be fined or even put into the stockade for holding business on sundays, it was a big deal. As far as I can tell, this law has nothing to do with protecting anyone, and everything to do with outdated mandates to keep one day especially "holy" or "sacred". Missouri is one of the most lenient states concerning alcohol. You can search specific states and their alcohol laws at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_law...
I don't know, but in PA, the only place you can ever buy alcohol is in a liquor store or distributor. It's not sol\d in stores here. Explain that...
because on sunday you are supposed to go to church but if you dont like that you are supposed to spend the day with your family and enjoying a family meal not having a booze party. also the folks that work in liquor stores might just like to have a day off to spend with there family. i wish they all bars too would stay closed on sunday then just be more folks would stay home and enjoy life
washington state has em opened sunday til 5 and u can get wines and beers at reg stores anytime u want
Isn't there supposed to separation of church and State? I am always perplexed by our political leaders chanting religious rhetoric.
you can buy beer n wine on Sundays but not liquor. it was an old "blue law" but its going away read the artical i gave the link for.
frickin bible belt b r o in some places dry counties still exist no alchohol no time
This is a law that has frustrated me for some time now. Not because I have a need to get alcohol on Sunday, but because the government should not tell businesses when they can and cannon sell something. What if, to help the obesity problem, they said that no Big Macs can be sold on Tuesdays. The Blue Laws are silly, and I cannot understand how/why they remain in the books in many states.