Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jewel · 08-10-2003, 05:50 AM

It doesn't sound like Tampa is going to completely do away with it's Sunday morning blue law, but they are considering rolling the magic time to 11am.

Quote:

TAMPA (2003-08-08) For decades, vendors have not been allowed to sell beer before the Buccaneer's 1 p.m. kick-off.

Restaurateurs have not marketed Sunday morning brunches.

And, the concessionaires at Tampa International Airport must explain to puzzled out-of-towners why cocktails are not served on Sunday mornings. TIA concession manager Kevin Keen.

KEEN: We're the only airport that I know of in Florida that is not allowed to open up at 7 a.m. on a Sunday. I've done research and I know that Orlando, Sarasota and Miami and Ft. Myers are all opening up at 7 o'clock in the morning.

Counsilman Dingfelder is on the right track:

Quote:

DINGFELDER: I'm not the least bit influenced by the desires of the restaurant, hotel, airport and motel industries. The fact that the chamber of commerce says we have to compete with drinking on Sunday morning with St. Petersburg I think is sad. But, what really influences me and the reason I'm going to support this has to do with personal freedom and the First Amendment.

Dingfelder believes the blue law, once based on religious propriety, should be repealed on the grounds of separation between government and religion.

Full story here .

edited to add link -- D'OH!

beth · 08-10-2003, 10:39 AM

I know. They already did it in St. Pete and there was no problem. One of the counselmen said that he was all for seperation of church and state and that he'd vote for it to be rolled back.

edit: I see you already included that.

enfant terrible · 08-10-2003, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jewel
Counsilman Dingfelder is on the right track

His argument seems dishonest if they are just moving the time to 11am. There is no FA difference between the 1pm and 11am restrictions. The only reason they actually could have used to achieve this result is precisely to help local businesses compete with St Pete, just what Ding-dong-felder denied.

(Edited to add: the only way 11am can be ok is if it applies every day, not just Sundays.)

Jewel · 08-10-2003, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by enfant terrible
His argument seems dishonest if they are just moving the time to 11am. There is no FA difference between the 1pm and 11am restrictions. The only reason they actually could have used to achieve this result is precisely to help local businesses compete with St Pete, just what Ding-dong-felder denied.

(Edited to add: the only way 11am can be ok is if it applies every day, not just Sundays.)

It is a step in the right direction, but I agree that they should just trash it completely -- it's just silly that people cannot have their mimosas at 8am on Sunday in a restaurant.

enfant terrible · 08-10-2003, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jewel
It is a step in the right direction

I agree - I didn't take issue with the result, but with the guy's explanation.

beth · 08-11-2003, 05:39 AM

Honestly I see no need for 8 A.M. mimosas, but yes, the blue law should be changed. I had no idea it existed till I went grocery shopping and added a bottle of wine to my order, at check out, I was looked at as if I were a drunken evil woman and told that I couldn't buy till one. Also, I don't see the counselman's arguments as dishonest. You have to understand the environment here and be sensitive to it. We have fundy Ronda Storms(or acts like a Nazi fundy chick) on our city counsel. She seems to have a lot of clout. One has to be careful, or she will cause all kinds of grief and cost the taxpayers money by challenging things.

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08-10-2003, 10:39 AM	#2
beth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: where orange blossoms bloom... Posts: 1,802	I know. They already did it in St. Pete and there was no problem. One of the counselmen said that he was all for seperation of church and state and that he'd vote for it to be rolled back. edit: I see you already included that.

08-11-2003, 05:39 AM	#6
beth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: where orange blossoms bloom... Posts: 1,802	Honestly I see no need for 8 A.M. mimosas, but yes, the blue law should be changed. I had no idea it existed till I went grocery shopping and added a bottle of wine to my order, at check out, I was looked at as if I were a drunken evil woman and told that I couldn't buy till one. Also, I don't see the counselman's arguments as dishonest. You have to understand the environment here and be sensitive to it. We have fundy Ronda Storms(or acts like a Nazi fundy chick) on our city counsel. She seems to have a lot of clout. One has to be careful, or she will cause all kinds of grief and cost the taxpayers money by challenging things.

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