Blue Laws

While reading my local newspaper the other day, I read that my town had voted to suspend the Sunday blue laws for the duration of the Christmas season. A poll, asking residents of their opinion of this measure, was included with the article.

When I was growing up in New Jersey in the late 60s and early 70s, I can’t remember there being blue laws there, as the malls kept the same hours, seven days a week. When I moved here in 1985, it was quite a culture shock to learn that many stores would not be open at all on Sunday, and the ones that were, wouldn’t open until 1:30 and would close again promptly at six. And even in the stores that were open, such as grocery stores, I could not buy alcohol on Sunday.

With the passage of this recent temporary measure, stores will be able to open and close at their usual times all week long, but you still can’t get any booze ‘til Monday.

I looked at the newspaper poll results and, predictably, two-thirds were against the measure, wanting the blue laws to remain as they were. Several made comments to the effect that blue laws, “encourage people to go to church”.

First of all, it’s not the government’s place to encourage people to attend church. I’ve always believed blue laws to be a violation of the separation of church and state, as blue laws are always on Sunday, thus favoring a particular religion. If we have blue laws on Sunday, that Jews, Muslims, and all others, must abide by, then why not blue laws on Saturdays for Jews and on other days for other religions?

Secondly, those who wish to go to church need no laws to reinforce that desire, nor will being unable to shop or buy beer on Sundays inspire those to go who do not wish to attend. Most churches have both morning and evening services, which would cover churchgoers who work on Sundays. It’s not as if going in the morning is somehow more devout than going in the evening.

In any case, blue laws have no place in a multicultural society containing people of all religions and of no religion.

Thoughts?