Sunday liquor sales make 'cents' for state

As UConn students are already well aware, liquor sales on Sundays are strictly forbidden in Connecticut, as they have been for over 70 years. Now, all of that may be about to change.

This year, with an extensive budget deficit reaching well into the ten-figure range, state representatives are considering overturning the last of the Blue Laws, and legalizing Sunday alcohol sales in our state. Such a measure is long overdue, and there is no better time than now to change the policy.

First and foremost, the more alcohol sold in Connecticut, the more money the state makes in revenue. In addition to the six percent sales tax, the state makes money on the "alcohol tax," which varies based upon the alcoholic-content of the product. If liquor stores are open on Sundays, they will undoubtedly sell a higher volume of products than if they were open only six days a week, and in turn produce more tax revenue for the state.

As it stands now, many Connecticut residents who want to purchase liquor on Sundays drive to our bordering states (Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York) to make their purchases, because all of those states permit Sunday liquor sales. Those purchases are revenue that Connecticut is missing out on because of our archaic, moralist approach to liquor sales. Many of the Connecticut residents who travel over the border to buy alcohol also purchase gas, cigarettes and other products while they are out of state to save money (since those products are usually cheaper outside of Connecticut, where gasoline and tobacco taxes are enormous). All of that money spent on liquor, gas and tobacco would be spent in Connecticut if package stores were allowed to do business on Sundays.

Perhaps even more important is the question of government intervention in the business world: why should the government be able to tell private businessmen and women that they cannot make a living on Sundays? No other businesses are forced to be closed on Sundays because of an old tradition. If businesspeople want to operate their stores on Sundays and earn extra revenue, they should be allowed to do so. If they want to remain closed, that is their prerogative.

Much of the support for a revision of the current policy comes from those who live near the state's borders, and are within a short driving distance of our neighbors who sell liquor on Sundays. Those individuals can literally see the money slipping away from the state as cars head over the border. As expected, most of the opposition against allowing Sunday liquor sales comes from representatives in the central part of the state, who represent constituencies nowhere near the state border. Liquor store owners in the central part of the state are not losing business to Massachusetts, Rhode Island or New York, and as such, they see no pressing reason to work seven days a week instead of six.

Some of those opposed to Sunday alcohol sales have raised concerns that permitting Sunday liquor sales will force liquor store owners, who have become accustomed to six day work weeks, to open on Sundays just to stay competitive. Many state representatives, particularly Democrats, have opposed legalizing Sunday sales because of the possible toll on liquor store employees. However, the choice of whether to open on Sundays would be completely at the discretion of the store owner. If he/she wants the day off, he/she can have the day off; no one is forcing them to open up.

Connecticut is one of only three states in the nation that does not permit alcohol sales on Sundays. Such a tradition is bad for many different businesses, not just liquor stores. Liquor store owners should at least be allowed to decide for themselves if they want to be open on Sundays and earn extra money. In a time of weak budgets, Connecticut needs all of the tax revenue it can get.