Council Approves Earlier Sunday Hours for South Brunswick Liquor Stores

South Brunswick's liquor stores are getting extra hours on Sundays.  The Township Council approved an ordinance at last night's meeting to allow liquor stores in South Brunswick to open at 10 a.m. instead of noon.

Existing regulations prohibit the sale or delivery of alcoholic beverages between the hours of 3 a.m. and noon on Sunday.  Currently, Saturday sales and deliveries of alcohol are prohibited between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m.  From Monday through Friday, alcohol sales are prohibited between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m.

The township had the option of extending the Sunday hours liquor stores were allowed to be open to later than 5 p.m. but ultimately nixed the idea, with the belief that allowing them to open earlier is a compromise that will alleviate the concern of lost sales.

Mayor Frank Gambatese said the council had heard complaints from liquor store owners that they were losing business to other towns like Franklin Township and Monroe Township, where stores are permitted to open at 9 a.m.

"This makes them more competitive with stores not in South Brunswick," he said.