A San Antonio lawmaker wants to ditch the ban on Sunday liquor sales so the state can grab the extra tax money as the legislature grapples with a $9 billion revenue shortfall. He’s not the only one looking to balance the books with booze; the Association Press reports five other states are looking to lift Sunday bans.
Budget writers love sin, or at least the tax revenues generated from it. Just two years ago Texas lawmakers instituted a fee on strip club patronage — hoping to raise $44 million or sexual assault prevention and (of course) to fund health insurance. That fee was declared unconstitutional, but is still being argued through the courts.
State Representative Roland Guiterrez (D-San Antonio) told KENS-5 TV allowing liquor sales would “provide some additional revenue from sales tax.”
For those who pretend like they don’t know, Texans can buy beer and wine on Sundays, but hard alcohol is available only by the drink in bars and restaurants. Bottles of your favorite boozy beverage can only be bought Monday-Saturday.
Only 15 states (including Texas) ban the sale of liquor on Sundays. Those looking to cash in: Georgia, Connecticut, Indiana, Alabama and Minnesota.
Nebraska is taking a slightly different shot. Their legislature is considering a bill to allow the consumption of alcohol in state parks, as a way to boost tourism.
Supporting the Texas effort are State Sen. Chuy Hinojosa and State Rep. Veronica Gonzales. They don’t like seeing so many Texans head across the border to get liquored up on Sundays.
“This is just a way to make sure that our money is kept on our side of the border for liquor sales,” said Gonzales.
