Nearly 6,000 get early Sunday liquor sales permit

LANSING (AP) -- Officials say that nearly 6,000 businesses statewide have received a special permit to allow more Sunday morning liquor sales since a ban was lifted late last year. The Jackson Citizen Patriot recently published details of the permits from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. Alcohol sales previously had been prohibited between 2 a.m. and noon on Sundays, but lawmakers changed that rule to allow sales starting at 7 a.m. Businesses pay an extra $160 annual fee to start sales early. The Liquor Control Commission says the state has received about $950,000 in revenue as a result of the change. The state has nearly 16,000 active liquor licenses. Communities may opt out of Sunday alcohol sales for just the morning or all day, depending on their preference. Published: Wed, Nov 30, 2011