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For immediate release: Thursday, December 21, 2006
For more information: contact Michael Kenyon, Director, Property and Special Taxes Division, 605.773.3311
Sunday New Year’s Eve Impacts Liquor Sales
(PIERRE, SD) – Revelers planning to usher in 2007 with an alcoholic toast may need to make some adjustments in their party schedule with New Year’s Eve falling on a Sunday this year.
According to Michael Kenyon, Director of the Property and Special Taxes Division of the South Dakota Department of Revenue and Regulation, whether or not a business can sell alcoholic beverages on that day will depend on the type of liquor license the business holds and what is permitted by local law. State law prohibits any alcohol sales between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. and places some restrictions upon alcohol sales on Sundays. Kenyon says local governments can create alcoholic beverage laws that are stricter than state law.
“Before making plans for New Year’s Eve alcohol sales this year, businesses should check with their local governments to make sure they aren’t violating any local laws,” Kenyon said. “New Year’s Eve doesn’t fall on a Sunday very often and the fact that it does this year will certainly impact how businesses can make sales that day and what type of product they can sell.”
State law allows the following types of sales on Sundays, based on license type:
· Holders of retail on & off sale malt beverage licenses or package off-sale malt beverage licenses can sell beer beginning at 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning until 2:00 a.m. Monday.
· Retail liquor license holders cannot sell any alcoholic beverages on Sunday unless they’ve been granted a “Sunday sale privilege” by their local government. Businesses granted that privilege can sell alcohol beginning at 11:00 a.m. Sunday until 2:00 a.m. Monday.
· Holders of package off-sale liquor licenses cannot sell any alcoholic beverages on Sunday unless their community has an ordinance allowing such licensees to sell on Sundays. If such an ordinance exists, alcoholic beverage sales are allowed from 7:00 a.m. until midnight on Sunday.
· Retail on-sale wine licensees can sell wine from noon until midnight on Sunday.
People having questions on state alcohol sale laws can contact the Property and Special Taxes Division at 605.773.3311. Questions regarding local alcohol ordinances should be directed to local governments.
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