Sunday Alcohol Sales Gain Momentum

Sunday, February 10, 2013

— A dozen cities in Arkansas allow retail alcohol sales on Sunday. Two of those are in Washington County after Springdale and Tontitown voters approved Sunday sales in November.

Springdale and Tontitown joined 10 cities in Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Franklin and Marion counties when they started Sunday sales Nov. 26, according to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.

At A Glance

Sunday Sales

Cities that allow Sunday alcohol sales in Arkansas:

-Baxter County: Briarcliff, Norfolk, Salesville

-Boone County: Diamond City

-Carroll County: Eureka Springs

-Franklin County: Altus, Ozark, Wiederkehr Village

-Marion County: Pyatt, Summit

-Washington County: Springdale, Tontitown

Source: Staff Report

Mark Zulpo, owner of Tontitown Z Mart, said he has customers who come in regularly to purchase beer on Sunday.

“All the feedback I’ve heard has been positive,” he said. “There hasn’t been anything negative at all.”

Benton County doesn’t allow Sunday alcohol sales. The county went wet in November and sales started in January.

Retailers with approved alcohol permits from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division in Benton County lock cases on Sunday or post notices that Sunday sales aren’t allowed.

Cities or counties can vote to allow Sunday alcohol sales between 10 a.m. and midnight or within a lesser time by ordinance, according to state law.

Angela Strode of Gravette said this week she is glad to see Sunday alcohol sales. She said she used to drive out of state to purchase beer Sunday, but now goes to Springdale.

Jim Phillips, president of the Springdale Liquor Association, said in January keeping tax dollars was a big motivator for his group to spearhead the drive to get Sunday sales approved. The Springdale Liquor Association owns seven liquor stores in the city.

Customers who buy alcohol at liquor or convenience stores pay a 6 percent state sales tax and a local sales tax. There’s also a 3 percent excise tax on liquor and wine and a 1 percent tax on beer.

“The local taxes go back to the city and the county taxes go back to the county or can be split between the cities,” said John Theis, assistant revenue commissioner for the Arkansas Department of Finance, in an news report. “The state sales tax is retained by the state and the excise tax is also retained by the state.”

Zulpo said his store used to lose business out of state before Sunday sales were approved.

“We’re so close to Oklahoma and Missouri in Northwest Arkansas,” Zulpo said. “A lot of travelers would come through to visit and they were used to being able to buy alcohol on Sunday. They were shocked.”

Zulpo said he considers Sunday sales a matter of convenience for his customers, along with a boost to local taxes.

“It will bring income to the city and state because people aren’t driving out of state,” Zulpo said.