Sunday Liquor laws outdated, not beneficial

It is currently illegal to sell alcohol on Sundays in 12 states in America. Minnesota is included on that list. Recently there has been a push to get rid of the law. The law is outdated and does not benefit our state and for that reason, I believe we should allow sales on Sundays.

While many businesses are hoping the bill will pass some smaller businesses hope it will not. They will be forced to stay open another day just to stay competitive. The law has been around since shortly after the great depression but recently there has been a push to change it.

Businesses should be able to stay open on any day of the week. It is a disadvantage especially for companies in the Stillwater area so close to Wisconsin. People who want liquor on a Sunday can just drive a few miles across the river. This puts these businesses at a step lower than those of Wisconsin.

Junior Charlie Hanley said, “In America, a business should be able to sell your product in any way or at any time. If this means allowing liquor sales on Sundays I believe it should be legal.”

The government should not be able to tell a business which days to be open. Liquor stores would be harming no one but themselves by staying open an extra day. It is also denying consumers the right to get liquor on a Sunday. Something should not be illegal based on the day of the week.

Sophomore Bethany Olson said, “Maybe people just don’t have time to buy booze on other days of the week.”

Governor Mark Dayton has already claimed he wouldn’t veto a measure that would lift the Sunday ban. The governor is the movements least worry right now. The need to pass through the House first.

Dayton said, “I think to say you can have all the shopping you want on Sundays, except for alcohol and automobiles, just doesn’t fit the modern era.”

I think we need to keep government and religion separate on issues like these.

— Tyler Cullen

One of the arguments against the sale of liquor on Sundays is regarding religion. In multiple dominant religions of the US it is forbidden to drink on a Sunday.

Junior Tyler Cullen said, “I think we need to keep government and religion separate on issues like these. I still don’t think people really need to buy liquor on Sundays.”

Seeing as only a dozen states do not allow sales on Sundays the change is inevitable. It is just a matter of how soon the change will come. All the states surrounding Minnesota allow seven day sales. It is estimated that 75 percent of Minnesota’s population lives within thirty miles of a liquor store in another state.

Senior Blue Buettner said, “In Stillwater we live close enough to Wisconsin where it really doesn’t matter. If someone wants liquor for their football party it is not difficult to drive across the river.”

As a state, we need to ensure that we pass the bill allowing liquor sales on Sundays. The law preventing sunday sales is outdated and does not benefit or save our state from anything. Governor Mark Dayton said he will not veto the bill so it has a good chance of passing.