Change in Liquor and Wine Store Hours Impacts the Community
Mixed emotions have been felt with Dutchess county liquor and wine stores now open until 9:00 p.m. everyday of the week. The change in hours has more of an impact on the community then one would realize.
Previously liquor and wine businesses could only stay open until 7:00 p.m., but with the new law the stores can operate from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. The one exception is Sunday, when the stores cannot open no sooner than noon.
It was May 20, 2019 when Dutchess county sent a resolution to the State Liquor authority board asking for extended hours. Fast forward to a hearing that took place on Aug. 27, 2019 to discuss increasing liquor store hours and the rest is history. The meeting had opinions for and against the extended hours. “We received some opposition from liquor stores and some support from liquor stores,” said State Liquor Authority director of public affairs William Crowley.
The change happens amidst public support for the increased hours to the stores in Dutchess county. “We received a whole bunch of postcards from people in the county supporting the extended hours,” said Crowley. One liquor store owner touched on the public’s demand for more hours. “If you go by the public opinion, they want you [open] 24 hours,” said Frank Tavarez who owns the Wine and Liquor Mart by Marist College. “They want it when they want it.”
Mother’s Against Drunk Driving or MADD were surprisingly in support of the extended hours as well. “MADD actually is in support of uniform hours in terms of liquor store hours,” said Rachel Browngardt who is the Victim Service Manager for MADD in New York. “We are in support of that concept because we don’t want to see people who are consuming alcohol in one county unable to purchase alcohol traveling from one county to the next in an effort to purchase alcohol.”
MADD was in favor of the increase in hours, where liquor stores can operate until 9:00 p.m. due to the fact the change in Dutchess county is in line with the New York state law. “The goal is to have it [hours] the same throughout New York state,” said Browngardt. “It is one factor and if we can control that and uniform that throughout the state, we do see that as a positive.”
The Wine and Liquor mart owner felt the hours were fine, but he will adapt to the new hours seemingly. “I was comfortable the way it was because I get home and have dinner with my family… now I have to work an extra two hours, but I am sure I will adjust to that,” said Tavarez.
Some consumers think the extended hours will benefit everyone “I think it’s [the extended hours] better for their business as they will get more customers being open later and it’s more convenient for customers,” said Katherine Frost, a Marist Student. Though business owners are not certain the hours will increase profits. “I’m not sure, we will have to wait and see,” said Tavarez. “It’s too early to tell.”
One reason liquor store owners wanted the extended hours was because of the surrounding counties and even Connecticut liquor stores longer hours. “There are counties boarding them that have longer hours, Connecticut recently expanded their hours,” said Crowley. “Those were the issues they were raising that they were at a competitive disadvantage as their hours were earlier than the boarding counties.
It doesn’t seem like consumers are worried about drunk driving or public intoxication increasing in the county due to the extended hours. “I don’t think there will be a difference in drinking and driving because of how late liquor stores stay open because convenience stores stay open 24 hours a day and people can just go in and buy beer anyway,” said Lisa Treanor, a Dutchess county resident.
The state liquor authority is not concerned in regard to drinking and driving cases going up either. “They’re not places you can go and legally drink, you have to purchase alcohol and you have to leave, so that’s mitigated by that,” said Crowley when asked about the possibility of more drinking and driving.
Though MADD is in favor of the extended hours to match the New York state law their message is clear. “Everyone has a choice and while MADD supports people consuming alcohol, we ask that people be smart about it, that they have a plan,” said Browngardt. “Certainly, we don’t condone anyone drinking and driving at any cost.”
