With grocers and convenience stores crying foul, Gov. Bill Ritter today signed a bill allowing liquor stores to open on Sundays.
The measure, which takes effect July 1, reverses a 75-year-old blue law that kept Coloradans from buying wine, spirits and strong beer on Sundays.
Customers who wanted alcohol on Sunday were limited to buying 3.2 beer from a grocery store or convenience store.
Ritter and others who turned out for a bill-signing ceremony at the Capitol today said the new law is all about the consumer.
But Ritter rejected arguments from grocers and convenience stores that the new law makes an unlevel playing field even more lopsided. Convenience-store industry representatives have said that 80 percent of the industry’s 3.2 beer sales in Colorado occur on Sundays — business that largely will be lost to liquor stores now.
“We listened to these arguments,” Ritter said in response. “On balance, it seemed there was great public sentiment to do this. We didn’t think that it would be an unlevel playing field.”
The response from grocers and the convenience-store industry was sharp and quick.
“For consumers, this bill takes one step forward and a major leap backward,” said Sean Duffy, a spokesman for the coalition. “Beer buyers will have fewer shopping choices as beer vanishes from grocery stores and convenience stores.
“To end this sweetheart deal for liquor stores, Colorado should join the 46 other states that have done away with 3.2 beer and let all licensed retailers sell full-strength beer.”
Grocers and convenience stores are still hoping to get a bill through allowing them to sell full-strength beer, but Ritter was noncommittal on that idea.
“We’ll wait and see if that comes forward,” the governor said.
