Massachusetts Considers Alcohol Sales Day After Christmas

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The Retailer's Association of Massachusetts has been pushing legislation that would allow package stores to open the day after holidays, including Christmas and new year's. Association vice president Bill rennie says the change would follow a similar loosening of Massachusetts so-called 'blue' laws in 2003, when the state started allowing alcohol sales on Sundays.

"The blue laws are antiquated and put us out on an island from surrounding states that don't have the same restrictions."

But some local package store owners say they won't benefit from the change, and may even lose money. Richard cooper owns state street wines and spirits and cooper's corner in Northampton. He says he would have to pay time and a half to anyone working those days -- and he never has fewer than two clerks on, for security reasons.

“Christmas and the day after new years are slow days anyway, so on the one hand it's a nice convenience for customers, but i don't anticipate a lot of business happening.”

If the law is changed, he says he would feel obligated to open up his store anyway so he doesn't lose customers to other outlets. Cooper is among several western Massachusetts package store owners who also opposed the Sunday liquor sales -- he says he believes customers don't buy more alcohol; they just spread their purchases over more days.