Only in a Government Operation

For over 70 years since prohibition, the Commonwealth of Virginia has operated a state monopoly on the distribution, sale, and profits of distilled spirits. And for over 70 years, the Commonwealth has prohibited the sale of such spirits on Sundays.

Apparently, a border-line genius has been voted into the state house, because someone in Richmond recently realized that liquor stores in Washington DC and at military commissaries were in fact open on Sundays. The result? Lost revenue as customers availed themselves of the free market.

So the legislature voted to allow ABC stores in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and around DC to open on Sunday, starting in July 2004. (Our modern Einsteins must have skipped Economics 101, voting simultaneously to raise prices 3%).

How did this moment of legislative brilliance play out in its first weekend? Well, around Norfolk, the ABC stores were open for business for the first time on a Sunday, July 4th, Independence Day. And the same stores were closed all day on Monday, July 5th, in observance of Independence Day. Heck of a way to run a business.

If the state ever allowed any competition, they would be broke in a month.