The debate over allowing Sunday liquor sales continues on.
A leader of the Texas Package Stores Association told the Senate Business and Commerce Committee on Tuesday there’s been no great demand from customers that liquor stores open on Sundays. Plus, opening on Sunday would likely spread the same sales over seven days instead of six, said association president Greg Wonsmos, who’s also president of Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits.
Some independent store owners and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States back the bill by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, saying it’s a matter of customer convenience and could provide extra tax revenue for the state.
Estimates range from $7.4 million to $12 million in increased state revenue per biennium. Former state chief revenue estimator Billy Hamilton said when blue laws preventing Sunday sales of certain items in stores were lifted in 1985, there was also much debate about the effects.
“I can tell you conclusively that is has both added to the convenience of shoppers and it has produced money for the state of Texas,” Hamilton said, adding that a ban on Sunday liquor store sales is one of the last remnants of the Texas blue laws.
Ellis’ bill is SB595; it did not get a vote in committee. Apparently, Comptroller Combs disagrees with Hamilton – she has announced that allowing Sunday liquor sales would not raise “no significant revenue”. I don’t know that I agree with that, but I also don’t think it really matters. I’ll say again, I see no reason to not allow liquor sales on Sunday. Whether it gets through the Lege, that’s a different story.
Pingback: Compromise on microbrew bills – Off the Kuff