The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that state-run liquor stores in Pennsylvania may soon allow Sunday sales. That’s right — in PA, all wine and hard liquor are only sold through state-run stores, and they’re not allowed to be open on Sundays (under current law).
Every Sunday untold numbers of Philadelphians cross the border to New Jersey and return with contraband booze.
These wine and spirits scofflaws are breaking one of Pennsylvania’s Prohibition-era blue laws. Slowly but surely, though, the “blue wall” is crumbling. This year alone the state has opened 26 liquor “superstores” and lifted the ban on Internet sales of wine.
The biggest news may come this week when lawmakers are likely to allow some State Stores to open on Sundays. […]
As a former PA resident, I can attest that they have some of the more bass-ackwards alcohol laws in the country. For instance, not only is beer restricted to sales at beer-only stores, but beer is also only allowed to be sold by-the-case (not by the 6-pack, or any other size). The reasoning is that people will drink less alcohol that way. Or something.
Oklahoma’s are equally head-scratching. Wine can only be sold in liquor stores. Beer over 3.2 can only be sold in liquor stores. Liquor stores must close at 9 (closed all day Sunday as well). Grocery stores and gas stations can sell the watered down beer until 2 A.M. seven days a week. Go figure. Of course, Texas’s blue laws are pretty antiquated as well.