In 2007, the citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish voted 61 percent to 39 percent to pull back the Baton Rouge Blue Laws. The vote allowed for liquor and wine to be served and beer to be served an additional 1.5 hours each Sunday. In a poll conducted by the Baton Rouge Business Report on September 25, 2012, showed that 71.7 percent of the 1,320 respondents were in favor of repealing the Baton Rouge Blue Laws. This Wednesday night at the Metro Council Meeting, Councilwoman Alison Gary has proposed to make Sunday an equal day to the other six days of the week, – allowing all spirits to be served from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m.. The new law would also allow on premise locations (bars that do not serve food) to be open on Sunday. This new proposal would allow alcohol to be served an additional seven hours a day or from 79.1 percent of the hours in a week to 83.3 percent of the hours in a week.  

Many people have argued that this goes against the Sabbath or that this will lead to an increase in crime and automobile accidents. The statistics do not back this finding up at all.  In Arkansas, a study by Arkansas State University showed that dry counties in Arkansas have a higher rate of traffic fatalities and alcohol-related traffic fatalities. In a report published in The South Alabamian newspaper, the first seven months after the city allowed alcohol sales, they saw nearly $200,000 additional taxes raised. In Romans 14:5-6, “Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.”

The statistics are out there and now all we need is for the citizens of Baton Rouge, young and old, to get out there and contact their Metro Council member to repeal the Baton Rouge Blue Laws. There was once a time for these laws in Baton Rouge, but not any longer. There was once a time for a lot of things in this country, but we have looked past our preconceived notions of what is right and wrong and looked at what is best to make Baton Rouge “America’s Next Great City.” This is our time. Come to the Metro Council meeting on Wednesday at 4 p.m. to show your support to #RepealBRBlueLaws