Why should Wichitans have to trek to small outlying towns like Cheney and Andale to buy liquor on Sundays, especially on New Year’s Eve?
Wichita consumers want the convenience of Sunday sales. And now that city liquor store owners see the competition stealing their business, most of them want Sunday sales, too.
As we argued in Wednesday’s editorial, the Wichita City Council should end the Sunday ban outright or send it to a public vote soon.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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41 Comments
liquor she be outlawed completely if i had my way but to make sales on th Holy day Sunday NO WAY
On the face of it, I don’t really care what days they sell booze. But it is kind of sad if you can’t go one day without the stuff, especially Sunday.
It’s a personal choice. Saying that, all others against it should mind their own business and just go to church and pray!
No problem… buy it on Saturday, drink it Sunday! Most of the people I know that drink already have a big supply in the cupboard. If your planning is that poor, I wonder if you should be drinking anyway!
What the heck is this world coming to? I mean you can have your unborn child killed but you can’t buy booze on Sunday, outrageous!!
Viva La Raza Blanco!!
I believe there is an Amendment to the US Constitution talking about government not respecting or abridging any establishment of religion. This was initially applied only to Feds, but has been expanded to state and local governments.
As such, why in the world is government giving credence to Sunday liquor sales? Out of deference to particular religions? This is one of the few remaining “blue laws” that other jurisdictions have recognized have no place in modern America.
Selling liquor on Sunday does not keep people who want to go to church to do so. It is an oblique respect of religious establishments, and for that reason alone must be ended.
PS. No, I don’t drink at all, and am not interested in buying alcohol on any day, but cannot stand this religion based law.
It seems simple enough. Let’s vote on it. All the other talk is blather.
“No problem… buy it on Saturday, drink it Sunday!”
“Big supply” is right, Sam. People tend to buy more than they would on Saturday night because they know if they guess wrong on the amount, they’re SOL.
It’s so much easier when alcohol is avaiable 7 days a week until 2 a.m. You don’t have think in terms of a “weekend supply,” or rush to get to the liquor store before it’s “too late.”
You don’t have to think about it at all. And, unless you’re a heavy drinker by nature, you will usually drink less.
I, of course, am speaking from personal experience.
Read into that what you will.
Yeah, it is probably better to abstain on Sundays or Thursdays, not eat fatty foods and whatnot. But we’re talking about government mandates, not personal behavior, of course.And raptor is of course right, though the Supreme Court disingenuously danced around the reality of Sunday prohibitions many moons ago.
When you consider the grief, death, and maheim booze causes, a day without being able to buy booze isn’t such a bad thing. I wonder how many people who are against smoking drink. How many people who drink are against legalizing pot? I don’t see much difference except that I’ve never been punched in the nose by somebody high on pot.
Travel to small towns on New’s Years Eve? Hey, don’t all of these alcoholics know what day New Year’s Day falls on and can’t do a little planning?
Other than having a pleasureable drink like wine, beer or some other harder liquor around to have with a dinner in a small amount, why would anyone want to “stock up” on a Sunday in order to kill a few more brain and liver cells?
Dear Dumbasses:I am against Bed, Bath & Beyond, but I don’t call for them to be closed. I just don’t go there. The same is true with liquor stores. All you have to do is vote against Sunday sales.I would prefer to drive drunk to my local beer store, instead of having to drive drunk to Maize, KS. It would be much safer for my children, riding in the front seat, without seatbelts. Doesn’t that make sense?
How hard is it to plan ahead?
I don’t care of the liquor stores are open on Sunday; However, closure of said stores does give symbolic credence to our society’s Christian values.
Well said fleetwood. The main needs I could see for Sunday sales would be unexpected guests or perhaps a special wine for a spur-of-the-moment dinner. Otherwise planning ahead shouldn’t be a problem for people. On the other hand, why not demand that business close on the Sabbath (SATURDAY)? Of course, we don’t do that but we do demand that for Sunday. That is “establishment” and should not be done.
Don’t want to open your store on Wednesdays? Then don’t. Just don’t pass a law requiring ME to follow suit.
If we can vote on Sunday liquor sales then at the same time we can vote on the casino - right?
The only time I needed or even wanted to buy alcohol on Sunday was NYE this year. We didn’t plan to go out, but at the last minute went to some friend’s house. Just a bottle of Champaigne would have been nice, but oh well, we were driving anyway. Not having it didn’t ruin my night.
The biggest issue I have with it, give the kids and spouses a day of rest from their drunken loved one.
Alcohol ruins more lives than anything else. I know your body, your business, and I agree-it is your business, I just don’t like it.
We don’t keep pharmacies closed on Sunday. Why should we keep liquor stores closed?
cs-Yes, It’s called freedom. Freedom for liquor stores to be open (or not), freedom to blow money at a casino (or not).Remember “blue laws”? I don’t, but forcing stores to close on Sundays is not freedom. Much like forcing restaurants and bars to be smoke free. If you don’t like the smoke, don’t go.pmom-This a Wichita issue, butt out.
They should also legalize marijuana at the same time!
And prostitution!
Sounds good Pimp…
I think we have officially started the Legalize Pot & Hoes campaign!
It sounds crazy, but if properly regulated …
Sell leg..NOT ARMS!!
POT IN EVERY CHICKEN!!!!!
Make it legal and tax it.
These Repuks want their tax cuts, than find something else to tax. How about tax Pot and Sex.
Simple, tattoo a business license to the inside of her leg…
If liquor stores have to be closed on Sunday, then other businesses should be forced as well.
How about restaurants closed on Sundays? Gas Stations? Grocery stores?
Just get all your shopping done on Saturday. We are singling out a type of business for religious reasons.
If you are comfortable with that, then outlaw pork and shellfish. That offends other religions.
Being an older guy from the South, I remember Blue Laws. A lot of businesses didn’t bother to open on Sundays because of the patchwork rules about what could and couldn’t be sold on Sunday. The businesses that did open had to drape blue plastic over items that couldn’t be sold on Sunday.
XXX- I remenber Blue Laws here, but never heard about the sheet thing.Was that down South, as in out of state?
I don’t see how liquor is counter-Christian. I mean, didn’t Jesus turn water into wine? So how is it any kind of disrespect to Christianity to allow Sunday liquor sales (unless you’re selling it at church, you know, money changers in the temple and all).
Now, the ABUSE of alcohol is a different topic…
In fact, turning water into wine was His first miracle.hmmmmm
XXX is right - I remember that we could not sell milk on Sundays. Go figure THAT one out!
drinking is NOT prohibited anywhere in the Bible…. drunkenness IS.
Just vote on it.. majority rules.
And making fun of a drunk is even worse! (Ham in regards to Noah)
Gster, that was in Texas in the 50s and very early 60s.
XXX–Thanks.
G
I was in a grocery store in TX on a Sunday back then, that didn’t cover the items. They seemed “loose” about the non-alcohol stuff.
A guy in front of me made the mistake of asking the checker if he could buy a “blue” item. She answered he could have… if he hadn’t asked first.
Liquor stores in Wichita can not be open on Sunday. But bars can. So instead of buying a 12 pak at the store and then going home to drink, a person can get in their car and go sit on a barstool and drink until 2 a.m.Guess how that person is going to get back home?
Where alcohol abuse problems exist, it doesn’t matter whether Sunday sales are legal or not. Someone who abuses alcohol will make sure to have a supply laid in. Or go to a bar.
Where it does make a difference is for people like me, who work full-time and can’t get all errands run on Saturday, and would just like to pick up some beer or a bottle of wine if last-minute dinner plans were made with friends. Sunday liquor sales is not a big deal for me one way or the other, but it would be a nice convenience. MY religion does not prohibit the use of alcohol. To ban Sunday sales for religious reasons kowtows to only a segment of religious people.
well said fredsmom
I cannot imagine that buying a beer on Sunday in Wichita would be such a moral issue for a county with a crooked judge like Rebecca Pilshaw in your Court system!
In response to the first respondent, Jeremy C.
What is your holy day isn’t necessarily everyone elses…
I have two holy days a year.
The Superbowl and the World Series…
Ok, 8 days possible…
Oh wait, the Collage football national championship…
Ok, tack on another day…
And the…
nevermind, my point is, I EXPECT BEER TO BE SOLD ON EACH OF THOES DAYS!
Thats whats holy about them, im allowed to sit around and watch them AND DRINK BEER!
Blue laws, religious laws, pick your laws, pick your nose. Oh, but those who oppose such a thing as liquor sales on Sunday would most certainly not pick their nose I think that is also a continued blue law. The liquor law sales are out of date and out of mind. Do we not want our local businesses to prosper? The buying of liquor on Sunday has nothing to do with preparedness. If I want Sunday beer, I go to the River City Brewery…best beer in town regardless of the day. If I want my medical prescriptions on Sunday, if I want to buy a car on Sunday, if I want food at specific restaurants on Sunday, if I want my dry cleaning on Sunday, if I want my hair done on Sunday, I respect that I cannot have my wants because those service providers chose to be closed. Or did they choose? How many are still compelled by religious laws? Uh oh, that has to be an error in thought. How could religious doctrine compel commerce under the First Amendment? The deuce you say! Wichita, Kansas respects the Constitution.
The deuce you say! No. Not the deuce. The deuce in the Constitution is the right to bear arms. The Ace in the hole is the First Amendment. Do not compel me to set one religion above another. In the continuation of refusing liquor sales on Sunday absolutely violates the First Amendment of the Constitution. This is not some ruddy, arbitrary game. The law is quite clear. Sell me beer, sell me wine, sell me paint on Sunday.