If the Legislature has its way, Oregonians will be able to purchase a little more spirit on Sundays.
The Oregon Legislature passed a resolution during last weekend’s special session that would allow the state’s 237 liquor stores to open for business on Sundays. The money from Sunday sales of distilled beverages would go to the state’s general fund programs, including the Oregon University System.
Oregon law currently forbids liquor stores to open Sundays, while grocery outlets may sell beer and wine all week.
However, Gov. John Kitzhaber may stop the party before it gets under way. Kitzhaber announced he may veto the bill, along with eight others, passed by the Legislature during the special session. A spokesman for Kitzhaber said the governor is expected to decide on its fate by Tuesday at the earliest.

Supporters of the measure see an extra day of liquor sales as another way to increase revenue for a cash-strapped state. Currently, Oregon is facing an estimated $830 million budget deficit, and the Democratic governor is at odds with the Republican-controlled Legislature on how to rebalance the state’s budget.
“At least (Sunday liquor sales) will be an ongoing source of revenue,” said State Sen. Tony Corcoran, D-Cottage Grove. Corcoran nicknamed the legislation “shots for tots” because it would provide added revenue that could be funneled directly to public schools.
Oregon has been in the liquor business since 1933, when legislators decided to make the state responsible for the sale of packaged liquor. Legislators created Oregon Liquor Control Commission to handle that task.
During the past fiscal year, OLCC contributed more than $100 million to different state funds, with a majority going to the state’s general fund, the primary pool of revenue for state-funded programs.
Liquor “has been one good source of revenue for the state,” said Ken Palke, spokesman for the OLCC.
OLCC purchases stock from alcohol distributors and has the 237 liquor stores sell the inventory. Palke said liquor is a safe business because it is recession proof.
“When times are real good, people tend to buy higher end products,” he said. During a recession “durable goods like food and beverages are one of the last things to come out of people’s budgets.”
If the governor does not veto the legislation, supporters say it will provide an added $3 million in state revenue. Local liquor store owners doubt it will ever create that much money because the OLCC has said it won’t force stores to open on Sunday, which may reduce the amount of alcohol bought that day.
“We can’t tell how much revenue it will generate right away, but it will generate revenue,” Palke said.
Connie Hammond, co-owner of Northgate Liquor in Springfield, said she and her husband Tom Hammond are not looking forward to the prospect of opening on Sundays.
“We enjoy Sundays off,” she said. “We work six days a week, and Sunday is very appreciated.” Hammond said she usually spends her day off cleaning shelves, preparing stock and conducting general store maintenance.
Also, years of Oregon blue laws have conditioned Northgate liquor’s customers to plan ahead for their purchases.
“Our customers know that we are not open on Sundays, so they do all of their shopping during the week,” she said.