AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Chapter 7, Section 709(d), Title 4 of the Delaware Code by striking said section in its entirety and by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
"(d) For purposes of this section, the following shall be considered holidays: Sunday, except Sundays that fall in the month of December; Thanksgiving Day; Christmas; and the hours of the day during which the polls are open for voting in any territory where an election is being held, except for the elections specified in subsection (g) of this section. On Sundays that fall in the month of December, the sale or spirits, wine and beer may only occur between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m."
Section 2. Amend Chapter 7, Section 709(c), Title 4 of the Delaware Code by striking the last sentence thereof in its entirety and by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
"The sale of alcoholic liquors shall be permitted in a licensed tavern or taproom on every day of the year except Sundays and the holidays other than Sundays specified in subsection (d) of this section, on which days said licenses shall not be permitted to sell alcoholic liquors."
Sunday sales of spirits, wine and beer were permitted on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve 1995. Sales by Delaware package stores on those days were an unqualified success on those two Sundays. The states of Maryland and New Jersey permit sales of spirits, wine and beer every Sunday, in large part to attract business from other states, including Delaware.
Section 1 of this Bill allows the sale of spirits, wine and beer between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Sundays that fall in the month of December, the busiest month for sales of spirits, wine and beer. The other designated holidays, including Sundays outside of December, remain the same.
Section 2 of this Bill clarifies that the sale of spirits, wine and beer on Sundays that fall in the month of December is permitted only in package stores and not in taverns or taprooms.