Montgomery County, MD – The Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) today applauded the Montgomery County Council’s decision to repeal its decades-old ban on Sunday alcohol sales – a move DISCUS says will increase customer convenience, provide businesses with additional choices, and generate much-needed revenue for County coffers.

“In today’s economy, Sunday is the second busiest shopping day of the week,” said DISCUS Vice President David Wojnar. “We applaud the members of the County Council for recognizing the benefits that Sunday alcohol sales will provide to consumers and the community. Though Sunday sales won’t erase the budget shortfall, certainly it will relieve some tax pressure by generating millions in additional revenue simply by opening the doors on Sundays.”

Beginning November 21, Montgomery County’s Department of Liquor Control’s (DLC) 24 County-owned liquor and wine stores will be open on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. for a six-month trial period. According to the Montgomery County Office of Public Information, the pilot program is being introduced as a customer-friendly, consumer convenience initiative.

Wojnar noted that Sunday beer sales already are available in Montgomery County. Additionally, beer, wine and spirits are already available at restaurants and bars on Sunday. He pointed to a recent economic analysis that found Montgomery County stood to generate up to $880,000 in new annual net income simply by repealing its Prohibition-era ban on Sunday spirits sales like the rest of Maryland and the vast majority of states across the country.

Thirty-six states currently allow Sunday sales of distilled spirits, including 14 states since 2002.