WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The outdated law banning Sunday liquor sales in Texas will keep package store owners on the sidelines during Sunday’s Big Game at Cowboy Stadium, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States – which called the statewide Sunday ban an unnecessary restriction that forces the State Treasury to fumble millions in lost revenue each year.
“Our outdated ban on Sunday liquor sales is going to cost me big-time during the Super Bowl,” said Eddie Dodson, owner of Boo’s Liquor in Kaufman County outside of Dallas – noting that Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest home entertaining days of the year. “The Sunday ban is bad for business, bad for my customers and costs the State millions each year. It doesn’t make sense that in today’s economy, state law forces my doors shut this Sunday – let alone any Sunday given it’s the second busiest shopping day of the week.”
According to the State Legislative Budget Board recommendations, Texas stands to generate $7.4 million in additional revenue simply by allowing store owners who want to open Sundays the choice and flexibility to do so, noted Dale Szyndrowski, vice president of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Szyndrowski pointed out that there are already more than 35,000 locations across Texas that sell alcohol every Sunday – restaurants, bars, grocery and convenience stores. The Prohibition-era ban on Sunday sales exists only for the state's 2,460 package stores, he said.
“This is a huge missed opportunity for the state,” Szyndrowski said. “Thousands of tourists from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are already accustomed to Sunday liquor sales. They’re going to be shocked when they arrive in Dallas and find the doors closed on Sunday.”
“Texans, whether you’re cheering for the Packers or the Steelers, if you’re hosting a party and forget to buy tequila for your margarita before Sunday – you’re out of luck,” he added.
Szyndrowski further noted that since 2002, 14 states have repealed outdated Sunday sales bans in response to increasing consumer demand and as an alternative to raising taxes in such a difficult economy. Currently, there are 36 states that allow Sunday sales of distilled spirits, while 47 states – including Texas, which allows beer and wine sales – allow some combination of beer, wine or distilled spirits sales at off-premise locations on Sundays.