House bill to allow Sunday liquor sales advances to state Senate

PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) - On Sundays in Mississippi, liquor store lights stay off.

That’s been the law for years.

House Bill 672 would let cities and counties decide whether that should change.

At Vineyard Fine Wines & Spirits in Hattiesburg, manager Will Thompson said the bill is about modernizing the state’s laws.

“From an employee’s point of view, it’s nice to have a guaranteed day off, but also, it’s just catching us up with other states,” said Thompson. “You know, from a business perspective, it’s more hours for us to sell liquor, it’s more hours our employees can work, and it’s more money we can make.”

At the Capitol, not everyone is ready to make Sunday just another sales day.

Sen. Joey Fillingane (R-District 41) said he questioned whether a seventh day is really necessary.

“My first reaction (is) it’s probably not a great idea, but I do know I don’t speak for the whole Senate either,” said Fillingane. “I just feel like, if you can be open six of the seven days, you probably have plenty of time to run by and get what you need for the seventh day.”

Fillingane said he also worries that small, family-owned stores could feel forced to open just to keep up.

“If you pass this, then, obviously, the pressure is going to be on all those stores to be open, to stay competitive with the guy down the street,” said Fillingane. “The market competition will nearly force them to be open on Sunday.

“So, there goes a lot of their freedom to have a day off once a week.”

The bill passed the House 62 votes to 47 votes.

Now, the decision moves to the Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether Sunday sales should become a local choice.

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