Senate to vote on bill that would allow liquor sales on Sunday

The Senate will soon vote on House Bill 329 — which would allow liquor stores to be open on Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m.

Currently, liquor stores can only sell from 10 to 10 Monday through Saturday.

Anyone looking for liquor on a Sunday would find a closed sign at each and every store — forcing them to find it elsewhere.

This is why Representative Jeffrey Hulum III backed the bill…

“We should not have to ask for things that are already here,” Hulum said. “When we take our money outside of our communities, outside of our cities, it hinders us from getting the things that we need. We’re growing our own local economy – not trying to stand up somebody else’s economy by not growing something that’s a vice that people are going to get anyway. Whether they go to a casino, they go to a bar, or a restaurant in Biloxi, They’re going to get the alcohol anyways.”

While this bill could keep Mississippian’s dollars local, it would also bring tourists to our local liquor stores.

As one of four states that limit liquor sales, visitors find it odd that they can’t have a drink on the weekend.

“We have a lot of tourists that come in here and they cannot believe that we cannot be open on Sundays. So, with this sales will increase. Plus with the festivals and events that happen in Downtown Gulfport, it would be a great asset to the area for us to be open on Sundays.”

Counties and municipalities can opt-out if voters petition the program.

Once a committee is formed, they will have until April 2nd to advance this bill.