Liquor store owners seek to shift Sunday sales hours

(CORRECTION: The original post said the committee approved the bill.)

Football fans may get an extra hour to get some liquid refreshment before a Minnesota Vikings game.

A bill that would shift Sunday hours for liquor store operators was held over Friday by the House Commerce Committee for possible omnibus bill inclusion.

Currently, liquor store operations are confined to between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. HF1462 would change the hours of operation to 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

“We think this change in hours will generate more sales for liquor stores,” said Rep. Tony Jurgens (R-Cottage Grove), the bill sponsor.

Dennis Brother Liquors Owner Steve Dennis said earlier hours would work more effectively for state liquor stores, who in his experience, have found Sunday sales occur earlier in the day, consist of smaller purchases, and largely dissipate during the final hour of operations.

“It’s nonpartisan, it’s noncontroversial,” Dennis stated. He characterized the proposal as an attempt “to make things just a little bit better.”

The bill has no Senate companion.