Newsbreak - Highlighting Stories in our town

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Highlighting News Stories for Our Town for the week of January 19, 2003

Newsbreak for Walpole
The Week – Jan. 19
The Year – 2004

Sunday Liquor Sales?

Effective with the New Year, legislation at the state level was passed to allow for the sale and consumption of alcohol based beverages in the Commonwealth. This is apparently the last vestige of the traditional ‘Blue Laws’ that provided for a separation of Sunday from the other six days of the week.

How does the new law work? When will we see liquor sales on Sunday in Walpole?

The selectmen, the licensing authority in town, need to take action whether to allow stores with liquor licenses to be open on Sunday.

What are the considerations?

1. Economic …. If some stores open, does that provide pressure for all stores to open? What about the store owners who look ahead o a day off, and must now consider working seven days a week?
2. Convenience and consistency … for the consumer or patron, opening stores on Sunday provides consistency and convenience. You can drop into the local restaurant or pub and have a sandwich or meal and enjoy a beer or cocktail. Today, you cannot go to a store and buy a sandwich and a beer to bring home.
3. Competition … If neighboring towns allow for Sunday sales, and Walpole does not, what are the competitive disadvantages? Will local businesses suffer? Is this pressure to compete too much for small businessmen?
4. Will this provision provide an impetus for other stores, supermarkets, to also sell liquor in addition to their line of grocery – adding to the one stop shopping idea?
5. In small towns, as with Walpole, stores that sell beer and wine and other alcohol products, are often family owned. Thus, the pressure to be open will create a new approach to business. Will some stores be open on Sunday and close on Monday? Labor costs will be part of the new approach to being open every day or not.

This is a large issue with many aspects. As the selectmen consider what to do, your opinions and ideas are important. Write or call and participate in the process.