Shoppers that need to squeeze in a trip to get beer, wine and spirits during the busy holiday season get a bit of a relief over the next three months.
Legislation passed earlier this year will allow liquor store owners to open their doors an hour earlier on Fridays and Saturdays and two hours earlier on Sundays.
Those hours will only apply from October through December and will revert to a 9 a.m. opening for most of the week and noon on Sundays come January.
Anyone already holding a license to sell spirits, wine or beer won’t have to apply for new permits to let customers in earlier.
The intent, according to the bill’s sponsors, is to allow for more consumer flexibility as holiday shopping ramps up toward the end of the year.
Under the new law, liquor stores will still have to close their doors by 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and by 8 p.m. on Sundays.