Christmas Eve was a bit jollier for D.C. residents looking to buy last-minute beer and other holiday spirits for their celebrations.
The District lifted its Sunday alcohol ban this weekend, meaning purchases of adult beverages was allowable for once because Christmas Day happens to be on a Monday. The special exemption will also be in effect next week in time for New Year’s Eve, which falls on a Sunday as well. “Blue laws” goes back to the 18th century as a term for restrictive moral regulations
According to the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, which made the call to lift the ban earlier this year, liquor stores and other establishments licensed to sell alcoholic beverages are legally able to do so up until Monday at 4 a.m. in each case.
D.C. is one of the few holdovers to still have Sunday “blue laws” restricting alcohol sales.
The Distilled Spirits Council, which is the industry’s national trade association, says on its Web site that 34 states currently allow Sunday sales of distilled spirits.
A dozen of these states just joined the list within the past three years, reflecting a national trend away from Sunday sales prohibitions.
Nearby Virginia became one of these 34 in 2004.
Maryland, by law, leaves the decision to its local governments.
In Prince George’s County, where Sunday “blue laws” are normally in place, lawmakers also decided to make an exemption for the Sundays before Christmas and New Year’s.
