Supermarkets, Liquor Stores Fight Over Beer, Wine Sales

DENVER -- Supermarkets and liquor stores are battling at the state Capitol over whether to change the state's liquor laws.

Lawmakers were holding hearings on two bills Wednesday. One would allow grocery stores to sell wine and high-point beer and the other would allow liquor stores to remain open on Sundays.

The bill allowing sales on Sundays passed out of the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee Wednesday.

"This bill is about consumer convenience and bringing Colorado's outdated liquor laws into the 21st century," said Sen. Jennifer Veiga (D-Denver). "It doesn't make sense for a free market society to regulate which days businesses can and cannot conduct their business."

State law has banned liquor stores from opening on Sundays since Prohibition ended in 1933.

Some owners of independent liquor stores said staying open on Sunday would be convenient for shoppers and support small, family-owned businesses.

"I have a loan and lease payments to make," said Jean McEvoy, owner of Aspen Leaf Liquor in Loveland. "I need the extra business."

But many other small liquor store owners testified against the bill.

"The law was right in 1933 and it's right now," said Stuart Hoover, owner of Willows Liquor in Lakewood.

Several said they can't afford to hire extra help, and don't want to have to work seven days a week themselves.

"No, (the proposal) is not a good idea at all," said Mehret Aregawi, whose husband owns Washington Street Liquors at 20th Avenue and Washington Street in Denver. "We need family time with our kids on Sundays."

But Veiga noted that her proposal wouldn't require everyone to open on Sundays, it would simply allow them to.

There are now 34 states that allow liquor sales on Sunday, including a dozen that changed their laws in the past six years. Analysts estimate that Sunday sales could bring Colorado an extra $4 million in taxes in the first year.

The bill next heads to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration

Supermarkets said their bill to allow liquor sales in grocery stores will give shoppers more options.