MASSACHUSETTS ENDS SUNDAY LIQUOR BLUE LAWS
Massachusetts lifted its ban on Sunday alcohol sales last weekend,
discarding a centuries-old policy that originated with the Puritans.
Starting at noon last Sunday, liquor storeowners in Massachusetts were able
to slake their customers thirst for beer, wine and liquor.
While the statewide change took effect Sunday, liquor stores in Boston and
some other cities and towns did not open because officials have yet to enact
the change locally. Individual cities and towns may opt out of the law,
through a vote of selectmen or other governing body.
In Boston, the Licensing Board will meet Thursday to determine their
position. Sources tell the media that most of the city's liquor stores will
probably be allowed to open on Sundays in order to remain competitive with
other area stores.
Gleaned from Peter LaFrance
Best regards,
Bill
More news, same source:
Adolph Coors Co. said that it will introduce a new low-carbohydrate beer, to
be called Aspen Edge. It will be distributed in 10 states beginning around
March 1, with plans to roll out the beer nationwide before the end of 2004
Just what we need...
Best regards,
Bill
On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 21:18:10 -0700, Bill Becker pondered exceedingly, then took
quill in hand and carefully composed...
| MASSACHUSETTS ENDS SUNDAY LIQUOR BLUE LAWS
|
| Massachusetts lifted its ban on Sunday alcohol sales last weekend,
| discarding a centuries-old policy that originated with the Puritans.
In a country that supposedly espouses separation of church and state, I find it
impossible to understand the legal basis for any state using religion to justify
regulation of an area of commerce.
Larc
§§§ - Please change planet to earth to reply by e-mail - §§§
It may have originated with the Puritans, but modern-day regulation of
in-state commerce in alcholic beverages is the legal right of each
individual state, as set forth in the 21st Amendment. The "Repeal" of
Prohibition came with that catch, and it survives to the present day.
The reason Sunday sales were finally allowed in Massachusetts have
less to do with sudden liberalization and more to do with states
desperate for tax revenue to replenish their dwindling coffers.
When I lived in the Northeasterner part of the country,
where one can find many of these "blue laws," they justified
it not in terms of religion but as a "family values" thing--
small family-run businesses couldn't compete as well with
large impersonal megabusinesses that stayed open 24/7, so
they field a bit. (But why Sunday? Always sounded a little
fishy to me...)
--
Joel Plutchak "Senza la birra tutto diventa orfano."
plutchak@[...] - Italian proverb (slightly revised)
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