Liquor Laws Still Blue For Now

Excitement grew quickly among proponents of Sunday liquor sales when the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. reported on March 4 that Arkansas had become the 36th state to repeal its blue law banning Sunday liquor sales at package stores.

But state officials said the blue law remains intact.

However, Senate Bill 121, which became Act 294 on March 3 with Gov. Mike Beebe’s signature, does give city and county governments the option to put a proposal on a ballot to allow Sunday sales at liquor stores. The act also allows for residents to mount a petition drive to get the measure on the ballot. A petition can qualify for city election or county referendum if it gets the signatures of 15 percent of voters in last governor’s election.