From the StarTribune Opinion Section: Before last Sunday's symbolic caravan to Hudson to buy liquor ("Liquor activists make Sunday beer run to Wisconsin," March 16), Sen. David Osmek, R-Mound, stated: "I am tired of sending our tax revenue and our commerce every Sunday to Wisconsin."
Well, as a longtime citizen of Hudson, let me say I am tired of Minnesota sending its liquor buyers to Hudson every Sunday.
Our quiet town doesn't need your citizens desperately driving 30 miles to Hudson for alcohol on Sunday because they drank their whole supply on Saturday and can't wait until Monday for more.
Their open displays of intoxication (public urination is a favorite), erratic driving, and disrespect for our citizens and town are unwelcome.
Should I even bother to mention the shootings in the liquor-store parking lots?
We've had enough.
The Hudson liquor-store owners will lose some business, but it will be a welcome respite for Hudson citizens and our police force.
Hurry up, Minnesota! Legalize Sunday liquor sales already!
Robert Muchlinski,
Hudson, Wis.
Editor's Note:
Contrary to Senator Osmek's statement, the data shows Sunday sales will not be an economic boom in tax revenue, and history shows some liquor stores will go out of business, which will put people out of work and hurt purchasing consumers.
Here are the facts:
Over the last six years, two states have passed a law allowing Sunday sales, Colorado in 2008 and Connecticut in 2012.
Colorado tax data since 2008 indicates Sunday sales was not the tax boon that proponents of Sunday sales had claimed.
Over the six year period from 2008 to 2013, total tax receipts increased an average of 2.33 percent annually, which is very close to the increase of the rate of inflation on a yearly basis.
When inflation is factored in, there simply is not an increase in revenue.
In addition, these tax receipts cited by Sunday sales proponents are for all total liquor sales, including on-sale at bars and restaurants, and do not specifically only include off-sale at liquor stores.
Another result of Colorado passing Sunday sales is the reduction of the number of liquor stores from 1,679 stores in 2007 to 1,552 in 2013, a loss of 127 businesses.
When the Connecticut governor and legislature approved Sunday liquor sales in the spring of 2012, an increase in tax receipts also never materialized.
Their legislature's nonpartisan fiscal analysis office anticipated Sunday sales one year later would boost receipts over $66 million, but the final tally came in at just $60.4 million.
Since then, total liquor tax collections by the state have remained stagnant for fiscal years 2012, 2013, and 2014 of between $60.4 and $60.6 million per year, which is well below the projected $66+ million per year.
Additional information is available here .
Lastly, proponents of the off-sale of alcohol on Sundays insist Minnesota is losing alcohol sales and tax revenue to border states because Minnesota's stores are closed on Sundays.
It's also important to recognize the combined Minnesota taxes on alcohol sales is higher than every state that borders Minnesota.
If a consumer lives in a border community, they would save money six days of the week traveling across town to spend in the border state.
