State votes for 'day of rest' for liquor store owners

A proposal by the state Legislature to repeal one of the last “blue laws� and allow Sunday liquor sales was defeated in Hartford late last week.

The reasoning behind the proposed bill was that it would bring a substantial increase in revenue to the state through the excise tax. It was also promoted as a way for retailers to increase profits and compete with bordering states where Sunday sales are already allowed.

In a story that ran in the Feb. 26 edition of The Journal, retailers, who are essentially owner/operators in this area, said they were not in favor of the law. It would force them to work seven days a week or hire extra help — but they did not believe they would see an increase in profits.

Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-30) told The Journal he believes the repeal failed because “few are convinced it will bring in a great deal of added revenue for the state, and many of our small business, family-run package store owners communicated very effectively with their legislators that a day of rest is appropriate.�

That day of rest idea is not just about overworked business owners, but a more general idea that seems to be taking hold. Rick Hotaling, owner of Rick’s Wine & Spirits in Sharon, may have said it best last week when he suggested that slowing down and heeding family values, such as that “old-fashioned� notion of Sunday as a family day, may be the ticket to turning around the ailing economy.