It shows up on the legislative agenda every couple of years, but there never seems to be much support for the idea of expanding Minnesota liquor store operating hours to include Sundays. As in the past, this year’s version of the bill should be allowed to quietly fade away because for a variety of reasons Minnesota does not need Sunday liquor sales.

There has never been any solid indication that opening liquor stores on Sunday would create an appreciable benefit for Minnesotans (or anyone else). There are some reasons that it is a bad idea. For one thing, anyone who can’t get himself or herself organized to stop by the liquor store prior to Sunday probably has less need than most to buy any liquor. More seriously, it is very clear Sunday hours would be a problem for small operators who would, for competitive reasons, be forced to open their stores on Sunday without gaining any appreciable sales. Minnesota’s leaders have already introduced a multitude of tax and policy plans that, if they become law, are going to break the backs of some small businesses. Another hardly seems like good policy.

Minnesota has gotten along just fine without Sunday liquor sales. No one is harmed by keeping the current law intact, and there would be harm for changing it. Letting the bill die would be good public policy.