Earlier Liquor Sales on Sunday!

By Benjy Lipsman in Food on Oct 28, 2004 3:15PM

Under a relaxed liquor law advanced Wednesday over the objections of police and inner-city aldermen, alcohol sales may begin at 10am instead of the current 11am.

Michael McCotter, the Chicago Police Department's commander of special events, said he's concerned that the extra hour will fuel more drunkenness at events like the Gay Pride, South Side Irish parades and Cubs games. Like Cubs fans haven't already mastered getting hammered?

And while Ald. Shirley Coleman (16th) doesn't worry about champagne brunches in her Englewood ward, she's concerned that the earlier start to Sunday liquor sales will pave the way for packaged goods stores to serve up a "brunch" of six-packs and booze.

While Chicagoist was a little young to remember the debates at the time, we're sure there was similar outrage when the Sunday liquor sales time was moved from noon to 11am back in 1989. But Sunday ain't exactly the "Lord's Day" as it once was, and if we can start drinking at 7am every other day of the week, then shouldn't we really be pushing for a 7am start time on Sunday, too? Hopefully, gaining an extra hour will spread out the brunch rush so there won't be an hour wait at Bongo Room. And Chicagoist needs an extra hour of drinking on Sundays in order to be able to watch the Bears!