HB 1542 -- SUNDAY LIQUOR SALES ON HOLIDAYS

SPONSOR:  Deeken

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Tourism
by a vote of 9 to 1.

This bill adds February 14, Valentine's Day, when it falls on a
Sunday, to the list of holidays on which any person having a
license to sell intoxicating liquor by the drink may be open for
business and sell intoxicating liquor by the drink under the
provisions of the person's current license.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2011, FY 2012, and
FY 2013.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that many restaurants in small towns
and rural areas of the state are not open on Sundays but would
like to open for business on select Sundays because of the
substantial business on special occasions.  Most of these
restaurants have a license to sell liquor Monday through
Saturday, but cannot afford the license to sell on Sunday because
it is too expensive for only being open one or two Sundays each
year.  Valentine's Day is the second most profitable day of the
year for a restaurant, after Mother's Day, and allowing a
restaurant to sell liquor on that day will result in additional
sales and income tax for the state.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Deeken and Storch;
Robert Agee, Madison's Cafe; Missouri Anheuser-Busch Wholesalers
Association; and Missouri Restaurant Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:11 pm