Prohibition of alcohol on Sundays in East Baton Rouge Parish may soon be a thing of the past if the blue laws are amended by voters in October. The amendment, which failed in the East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council on May 9 by one vote, will be on the same ballot as the gubernatorial election October 20. The proposed amendment will allow businesses to sell packaged alcohol for consumption off the premises, such as gas stations and liquor stores, on Sundays. Currently, such stores are not allowed to sell liquor on Sundays and are only allowed to sell packaged beer for off-site consumption after 12:30 p.m. The amendment will also allow businesses that serve alcohol for consumption on the premises, such as bars and restaurants, to sell alcohol on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, if should they fall on a Sunday, as well as on Super Bowl Sundays. When the proposed amendments reached the council May 9, one council member was absent, five voted in opposition to the amendment and six voted in favor of the changes. Seven votes of approval were needed for the amendment to be passed. Because the amendment narrowly failed, the decision was passed to the hands of the voters. City Councilman Darrell Ourso, who co-sponsored the amendment with Councilman Mike Walker, said he felt the laws were outdated, and because of the controversy surrounding alcohol consumption, the voters need to decide. “It’s an issue that has outlived its course of life,” Ourso said. “I’ve been on the council the past seven years, and when issues relating to alcohol come before us, the council becomes galvanized. So let’s put it before the voters to decide.” Ourso said he decided to propose the amendment this past December, when the council decided to allow the sale of alcohol on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, which both fell on Sunday. Councilmen Ulysses Addison and David Boeno, who both voted against the amendment, did not return phone calls by press time. The Campus-Community Coalition for Change, which aims to reduce high-risk drinking among college students, was unavailable for comment. Ourso said the economic profits of selling alcohol on Sundays would likely be minimal, and his reason for sponsoring the amendment is convenience for his constituents. “This is not for economic reasons,” Ourso said. “While there will be some impact, it isn’t a driving factor [behind the amendment]. Some additional revenue will be realized on Sundays, but it’s more about the convenience of being able to buy alcohol on Sundays.” According to Ourso, no official study has been conducted to verify the amount of potential revenue earned by amending the laws as well as the dollar value of economic profit lost because of consumers driving to surrounding parishes to purchase alcohol on Sundays.
As demonstrated by the differing laws regulating alcohol from state to state, Ourso said communities are able to decide what best suits their local needs. “A change in our community’s acceptance will yield a change in our community’s laws,” Ourso said. Jason Green, owner and manager of Jarvis Green’s Purple & Gold Liquor on Nicholson Drive, agrees with Ourso that the laws should change. “I think it’s time for a change in Baton Rouge,” Green said. “I’m not against another day for us to make some money.” Jason Green said he believes his business would easily benefit from being allowed to sell alcohol on Sundays. “It would bring more business when the students are in,” Green said. “It’s a big drinking day, especially during football season.” Anthony Zehyoue, education graduate student, said he supports the amendment to the blue laws. “I think you should leave it up to the consumer; let the consumer have the choice,” Zehyoue said. “I don’t know the harm in allowing alcohol sales on Sundays; leave it up to each individual to decide.” Kyle Gahagan, an incoming university freshman, said he understood both sides of the issue. “Deciding about the sale of alcohol [on Sundays] depends on what you’re focusing on. Do you want to help to economy? But, at the same time, Sunday is supposed to be a holy day,” Gahagan said. “In New Orleans, where I’m from, it doesn’t really matter. You can buy alcohol anytime you want.” Until October, the fate of the blue laws remains unknown. “Ultimately, voters have final say in this matter,” Ourso said.
—Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]