McCormick and Ketron: Seven-day alcohol sales option helps small businesses

There are small businesses in Chattanooga and across Tennessee that are prohibited by state law from opening their doors on Sunday. This law is out of date, inconsistent and potentially harmful to these retail store owners.

Currently in Tennessee, beer, wine and spirits can be sold any day of the week at a number of places, including restaurants, sporting events, hotels, theaters, convention centers, airports, retirement centers, tourist resorts and many others. Local distilleries can sell up to five gallons of their product on-site any day of the week. Tennesseans also can buy beer in grocery stores any day of the week, but retail stores can’t even choose when they are open.

That doesn’t make sense and is why we have introduced legislation this session to give retailers the option to be open seven days a week, if they want to be.

The Tennessee General Assembly works hard to make sure that Tennessee is a great place to do business, and we are often touted in national rankings as a pro-business state. Therefore, it doesn’t make sense that Tennessee is one of only 10 states that currently puts local retailers at a competitive disadvantage. We don’t even give these small business owners the option of making the most basic of business decisions – when to be open.

We’ve heard from Tennesseans that they don’t think government should be in the business of making operating decisions for private companies. Allowing retailers to be open on Sundays would be convenient for customers, and business owners should be able to make these kinds of decisions for their bottom lines.

Estimates show that allowing seven-day sales in Tennessee could generate between $20 to $28 million each year for local retailers. In states that have passed similar legislation, average store sales increases have been between 4 percent and 11.5 percent.

Also, as a state that is bordered by eight other states, five of which currently allow seven-day sales, this bill is also about keeping our tax dollars here in Tennessee instead of watching them go to surrounding states.

Our approach is about supporting small businesses across Tennessee and allowing them to make the best decisions they can to succeed while creating a higher level of convenience and customer service for consumers. Our bill simply updates the law to allow retailers to be open seven days a week if they want to be. It doesn’t require them to be but gives them the option.

Year in and year out, Tennessee is highlighted as a state that understands and supports the creation of jobs. Passing this bill is an easy way to make sure we are looking out for small businesses across the state and not getting in their way by mandating basic business decisions.

Giving retailers the option to be open seven days a week just makes sense. It also assures that consumers are able to purchase the goods they want at the time of their choosing instead of the government’s choosing.

Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, and Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, are sponsors of SB2518/HB1540 to allow seven-day sales in Tennessee.