BACKGROUND

The Village received a request from Jewel-Osco requesting a change in Sunday liquor sale hours. Currently, packaged liquor establishments cannot sell alcoholic beverages until 11am on Sunday, although they can sell liquor as early as 8am Monday through Saturday.  By changing the sale hours to 8am on Sunday, it would allow packaged liquor establishments to have consistent liquor sale hours for the whole week.

Jewel-Osco indicated that Sunday is their number one shopping day and they would like to serve the needs of their customers. They believe that amending the Sunday liquor sales restrictions will promote their one-stop shopping concept and keep the sales tax dollars in Arlington Heights.

Jewel-Osco provided a summary of liquor selling hours in their north area locations. Out of the 46 municipalities listed, only two - Arlington Heights and Rolling Meadows - have liquor sales start times as late as 11am. Nearby Sunday liquor sale hours are as follows:

        Buffalo Grove –  9am

        Elk Grove – 6am

        Mount Prospect – 8am

        Wheeling – 7am (not a part of the Jewel-Osco information but Staff verified)

A granting of this request to allow Sunday liquor sale hours to begin at 8am would apply to all Class B (full package sales) and BB (beer and wine only) liquor licenses.

Staff believes that granting this request would benefit Arlington Heights businesses by giving them more flexibility to meet the needs of their customers.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Village Board adopt the attached Ordinance Amending Chapter 13 to change the Sunday start time for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages from 11am to 8am. This change will only affect Class B and BB licenses.