Reason For No Alcohol Sales on Sunday?

[UncleMike]

Knowing I'll likely get beaten up for being a fascist, I'll put this idea forward:

Blue laws were enacted to make the law comply with the community standards of the time. I'll wager very few people felt imposed-upon at the time, for reasons stated aptly upthread.

Such laws may not make sense in today's 24/7 world, but they very much made sense when enacted.

Good point!
When I was growing up the Blue Laws were just the way it was.
No one felt particularly put out by them.
Of course then, the pace of life was slower.
Mike

 

[ATOMonkey]

If it were true that liquor stores would go out of business, (which it's not) then we should see this happening in Illinois and Michigan and Ohio, correct?

I have been to these fabeled "Sunday Sales" states, and one thing they do not lack is liquor stores. Hell, they have drive through liquor stores in Ohio.

The economic argument is thin, and untenable, when you look at real world data.

 

[dross]

My first encounter with this law was on the Super Bowl. I had just moved to Indiana the day before. Went to buy beer on Sunday for the game, found out about these stupid laws. Beerless for the Super Bowl! Indiana started off its relationship with me completely on the wrong foot.

The next time it happened, I was having some people over, went to buy some adult refreshments, but found out about the "no alcohol on election day," stupid rule.

I have since moved back to Colorado. Indiana blew it with me.

 

[E5RANGER375]

Knowing I'll likely get beaten up for being a fascist, I'll put this idea forward:

Blue laws were enacted to make the law comply with the community standards of the time. I'll wager very few people felt imposed-upon at the time, for reasons stated aptly upthread.

Such laws may not make sense in today's 24/7 world, but they very much made sense when enacted.

kinda like the law that says your wife cant give you a BJ? "blue" chicks were always the craziest in bed

 

[Kirk Freeman]

If it were true that liquor stores would go out of business

That's not the argument, but having Wally World selling on Sunday means that the liquor stores have to work harder for the same money.

Wouldn't you like the government guaranteeing you a day off?

 

[ATOMonkey]

Liquor stores should lease space from Wal-mart to sell booze. Win-win.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Beerless for the Super Bowl! Indiana started off its relationship with me completely on the wrong foot.

That's YOUR fault for being unprepared.

Now you can just go to a microbrew pub and pick up a 6 pack or three.

The next time it happened, I was having some people over, went to buy some adult refreshments, but found out about the "no alcohol on election day," stupid rule.

Again, YOUR sloth is not the state's fault

 

[dross]

That's YOUR fault for being unprepared.

Now you can just go to a microbrew pub and pick up a 6 pack or three.



Again, YOUR sloth is not the state's fault

Prepared or no, it's nothing more than the worse kind of tyranny. I possessed currency (and/or trade items) in sufficient amounts to pay the asked price for the sweet golden nectar, and the proprietor had such nectar available for sale. It was only the intervention of the grubby hand of the state that prevented a beautiful interpersonal free exchange that would have resulted in both parties feeling better off than they had before the exchange.

Cruel, cruel tyranny.

 

[rmabrey]

If this is progress, what is it progress towards?

lax liquor laws

 

[steepo17]

Steep, how much economics do you have? (just asking, not meant to be a smart alec).

Have you heard of "rent seeking"? This is the motivation of the no Sunday sales rule.

Rent seeking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wal-Mart, Kroger, inter alia would love to sell you beer on Sunday, but small liquor stores are using the power of the law for economic advantage as they get a day off which does not impact their bottom line.

Kirk, it's a legitimate question, no offense taken - I know the concept, I was an Econ major in undergrad and have an advanced degree. However, politics and economics don't always mesh (reference any number of current political topics now in play). There have been some great posts and some history of "blue laws" in which I was not familiar - thanks everyone. The fascinating part of this topic is that it's my understanding this issue was put before a "special committee" of the state senate late last year and they voted not even to consider overturning it. This committee was led by State Senator Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis), saying "I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that Sunday sales would be a bad thing that would lead to more underage drinking and traffic accidents, while failing to provide any more state tax revenue", further concluding the petitioners had failed to prove their case that it would improve customer convenience. Keep in mind that his quote was an opinion and based on NO evidence to support it. This certainly sounds fishy to me, especially resolving to not even support it for consideration when the senate is in regular session. I mean, vote "NO" if you're inclined, but at least allow it to be considered.

 

[Hawkeye]

Plan ahead! Buy your booze on Saturday - stock the bar. the you won't need to worry aobut it.

Seriously, I can remember movign to IN about 20 years ago. My wife and I were in the Marsh buying groceries on Sunday. Having moved from IL the week before, we never gave a thought to it. Picked up a case of Miller. The checkout lady laguhed at us. She said something like "now of course you know you can't buy that today". I said I did not know that!

 

[steepo17]

Plan ahead! Buy your booze on Saturday - stock the bar. the you won't need to worry aobut it.

Seriously, I can remember movign to IN about 20 years ago. My wife and I were in the Marsh buying groceries on Sunday. Having moved from IL the week before, we never gave a thought to it. Picked up a case of Miller. The checkout lady laguhed at us. She said something like "now of course you know you can't buy that today". I said I did not know that!

Look, I don't want to make something out of nothing, however, this little topic seems to be a microcosm of larger issues in which the economics are unnecessarily skewed by government intervention. It seems that it was originally developed due to conventional moral's of the time, but it's turned into an antiquated law that more or less subsidizes liquor store owners for not finding it profitable to be open on Sunday. Most of what I have heard from the dissenting opinion is that it's not an inconvenience to me, because I can buy it any other day of the week. Well, what if according to the law, you could ONLY buy it on Sunday? Would you have more of a problem with it? I'm sure you could learn to live with someone kicking you in the nuts once a week too - "hey, I don't get kicked in the nuts the other 6 days of the week, so it's not that much of an inconvenience". I'm saying it's a bad law - get it off the books. It is unnecessary economic intervention by the government and it unfairly benefits a party in a competitive marketplace.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

"I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that Sunday sales would be a bad thing that would lead to more underage drinking and traffic accidents, while failing to provide any more state tax revenue",

The man is certainly a certified fool, but this is known as "cover" in politics.

He has no idea what he is talking about but using children allows an out for his moronic decision. Everyone loves children and hates drunken driving accidents, except for the police and prosecutors in Marion County.

Sorry, cannot help myself.

 

[rmabrey]

"I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that Sunday sales would be a bad thing that would lead to more underage drinking and traffic accidents

The only way it would increase underage drinking is that the older brothers and sisters can go buy the little ones beer on Sunday.

 

[DocBoCook]

There should be no liquor purchasing laws. What you do with your body is your business. When, how, whatever. But laws against operating motor vehicles ( because it has to do with other people) should remain illegal. Period. Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness. As long as it does not infringe on others rights to the above, you should be entitled to the above, whatever it may be.

In other countries, if you can see over the counter, you can buy beer/wine/liquor.

 

[rooster007]

bootleggers have to make money sometime.

No auto sales on sunday either.

And you need 1 day to give your liver a rest

 

[rooster007]

Plan ahead! Buy your booze on Saturday - stock the bar. the you won't need to worry aobut it.

Seriously, I can remember movign to IN about 20 years ago. My wife and I were in the Marsh buying groceries on Sunday. Having moved from IL the week before, we never gave a thought to it. Picked up a case of Miller. The checkout lady laguhed at us. She said something like "now of course you know you can't buy that today". I said I did not know that!

The rest of you so called preppers better get on the ball . stock up stock up stock up , there is nothing worse than fighting zombies/raiders for five or six days in a row ,then wanting to get your drink on and having nothing

 

[beararms1776]

I have lived in Indiana long enough that I am accustomed to the law that sales of alcohol are banned outside of restaurants/bars on Sundays and certain holidays. However, sometimes it becomes a big inconvenience and I have to wonder why this hasn't been repealed/amended. Can someone enlighten me to the brilliant thought behind this dumba*s law?

Could be maybe because there are enough drunk drivers Mon thru Sat.

 

[CarmelHP]

That's not the argument, but having Wally World selling on Sunday means that the liquor stores have to work harder for the same money.

Wouldn't you like the government guaranteeing you a day off?

I see the liquor stores' argument. Their beef is that they are prohibited from selling cold food items and juices that would go with the liquor. If sales are permitted on Sunday, the big supermarkets will get the people who want to buy other items for parties and such and the liquor stores will have slow business but the same expense. Just make a single license (instead of apothecary and package liquor) and let everyone sell whatever they want as far as victuals and provisions. Level the playing field and let us drink all week.

 

[rmabrey]

I still don't see the liquor store argument. Just cause you can buy alcohol on Sunday doesn't mean they have to open so they really don't have to compete with the superstores on Sunday. Even if they chose to open, Most grocery stores only sell select hard alcohol and it is usually over priced so the liquor stores are still at an advantage.

Again, making alcohol sales legal on Sunday does NOT mean that liquor stores have to open